Sculpture Gallery 35 1939

Eggers and Higgins created this image of Sculpture Gallery 35 sometime between 1937 and 1975. It presents the kind of cool, classical architectural style we associate with museums. The drawing presents the symmetrical design of a large gallery with a domed ceiling. In the center, there is a doorway and what appears to be a fountain. On either side, we can see classical statues standing on pedestals. The classical style of the design reflects a very specific attitude toward the role of institutions as places of learning and public life, especially in the U.S. during the twentieth century. We might look to sources such as architectural journals, government documents, and the writings of museum directors to gain a fuller understanding of the values attached to this kind of design. Ultimately, the meaning of this artwork is to be found in its relationship to institutional and cultural history.