Rush Bottom Chair c. 1937

Curator: This watercolor work by Dana Bartlett, circa 1937, is titled "Rush Bottom Chair." I'm curious, what is your first reaction? Editor: Simplicity. It possesses a quiet charm. I’m struck by the delicate way the artist rendered the familiar object. There’s a real tenderness here. Curator: Indeed. On one level, this artwork meticulously documents a simple household object, but it also acts as a kind of cultural artifact, representative of an era. This work invites questions regarding utility and social status, offering a glimpse into lives of makers and users within the context of 1930s America. Who sat in this chair, and what labor went into its construction? Editor: Precisely. The chair’s design, with its humble materials—wood and woven rush—speaks of craftsmanship and the slow rhythms of a pre-digital world. Those details, the dark wood juxtaposed with the natural woven seat and gold accents, hint at something more profound than basic function. The artist’s emphasis elevates this simple chair, reminding us to see worthiness in the everyday. I want to study it more deeply for its iconography. Curator: Good point. Also note the interplay of light and shadow, which speaks volumes about the period and what a home represented during that era. It also offers commentary on gender roles. While such chairs provided utilitarian function, were these objects used differently by diverse identities and marginalized groups? The way artists have represented them can be politically and socially charged. Editor: And if you look at the very top panel of the chair’s backing, the painter leaves subtle but evocative images there. The image is somewhat simple, but they leave us to meditate on what these organic shapes represent. I see something that reminds me of nature, harvest, and domestic tranquility. The choice of watercolor softens the utilitarianism of the chair itself. It’s an accessible medium that imbues the scene with warmth and sentimentality. Curator: So while appearing as a mere chair, this object bears witness to many unseen histories, a reflection of those seated and laboring. Editor: An object of humble beauty, made all the more potent by this thoughtful rendering.