Brooklyn Library 1868 - 1869

Peter Bonnett Wight designed this artwork for the Brooklyn Library; it's an ornamental scheme done in watercolor, graphite, and ink on paper. With its bold geometric forms and vibrant palette, this piece pulls from the aesthetics of the Gothic Revival, a movement which saw the Middle Ages as a time of great artistic and spiritual depth. Yet, we should remember that the Medieval period was not a progressive era; its rigid social hierarchies, including gender roles, and the pervasive power of the church remind us that not all history is worth repeating. Consider how Wight's design borrows from the past, but his choices, his colors, and the very act of creating art for a public library signify a hope in progress and knowledge. The Brooklyn Library sought to provide access to literature and learning for a broad public, and in doing so, fostered opportunities for new voices and perspectives to emerge. Through the accessibility of public spaces for learning and the arts we find potential for change.