Bed c. 1936

Natalie Simon created this rendering of a bed using watercolor and graphite, at an unknown date. Simon was born in an era marked by distinct gender roles and expectations. Consider the bed, often associated with the domestic sphere and traditionally linked to women's roles as homemakers. This piece invites a reflection on women's confinement to private spaces, as well as the societal norms that dictated their identities and limited their opportunities. This image prompts us to think about the history of domestic labor and gendered expectations, while acknowledging the bed as a site of rest, intimacy, and personal reflection. The choice to represent it highlights its cultural and symbolic significance. The artwork develops alternative narratives by representing the domestic sphere as a symbol of both comfort and confinement, reflecting the complex realities of women's lives during that era. Simon's artistic interpretation of "Bed" encourages us to question and challenge conventional representations of women and domesticity.