Entrance Hall 1935 - 1942

Perkins Harnly made this watercolor painting of an entrance hall, probably sometime in the mid-20th century. Imagine Harnly, leaning over the paper, delicately building up these layers of intricate detail with a tiny brush. I love the way the patterned wallpaper seems to creep into every corner, surrounding the gilded furniture and elaborate light fixtures. It's as if the artist is trying to capture a sense of overwhelming opulence and claustrophobia. There’s a real tension here, between the desire to create an inviting space and the feeling of being trapped by the sheer excess of it all. The colours are muted, almost faded, which adds to the sense of melancholy and decay. It reminds me a little of Walter Sickert's interiors, and maybe even some of the early Pop artists. There is an ongoing conversation between artists across generations, each building on the ideas of those who came before, and I think Harnly participates in that conversation.