The Property Room 1879

Arthur Hughes made this intriguing oil painting, *The Property Room,* sometime in the 19th century. The scene bristles with surfaces: velvety robes, polished wood, the smooth skin of the woman, and the plaster faces hanging in the background. This painting is so evocative because of its contrast between richness and simplicity. The collection of theatrical costumes and props, the garb of make-believe, is juxtaposed against the modest dress of the barefoot young woman. We see the labor involved in crafting each item of clothing: the stitching, dying, and weaving needed to bring these costumes to life. Consider too the labor of the actors, who inhabit these guises night after night. In their hands, the objects become powerful tools. Hughes understood the importance of making and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork, and challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.