Chimney 1939

Raymond E. Noble created this watercolor artwork, titled "Chimney," sometime between 1855 and 1995. The artist was interested in buildings, and in this work, the chimney becomes a subject worthy of study. The image is freighted with cultural meaning. Chimneys were signs of the new industrial wealth that transformed European and American societies in the late 19th century. They were also a symbol of human domination over nature, and the idea of the home as a refuge from the world. Noble seems interested in a vernacular style, where the chimney shows the marks of time and human use. Understanding the social history of art requires examining how ordinary objects can reveal social change. We can learn more about Noble’s interests by consulting historical surveys and local archives, and by comparing his architectural studies with the work of his contemporaries. Context is key to understanding the meaning of art.