Cozy Corner 1935 - 1942

Editor: Perkins Harnly created this work titled "Cozy Corner" sometime between 1935 and 1942, and it's rendered in mixed media using drawing and colored pencils. The piece has a definite, exotic vibe, almost like a stage set. What jumps out at you when you look at this drawing? Curator: It's fascinating, isn’t it? To me, this isn’t just a drawing; it’s a window into the escapist fantasies of the era. Harnly masterfully combines Art Deco aesthetics with an orientalist flair – a popular trend at the time, where the Western world projected its fantasies onto the “exotic” East. The very title suggests an invitation to dream and relax in another world, what do you think? Editor: That makes sense! The layering is pretty amazing, it creates this feeling of real depth with so many textures that your eye never stops moving. What about the blank picture frames? Curator: The empty frames feel quite deliberate, don’t they? Almost as if the viewer is being invited to imagine their own stories and projections onto this 'cozy corner.' Are they a personal memento or a space for pure fantasy? What do you envision there? Editor: I like that. The American flag also strikes an odd note considering the rest of the design... Curator: Indeed. That flag throws another layer into the mix. Harnly is seemingly saying "I can be worldly while remaining distinctly American." What could that possibly mean at this time? It shows how complex perceptions and assumptions of cultural identity could be. Editor: It's certainly much more than just a pretty drawing! The layers of cultural commentary make it truly engaging. I definitely see it in a new light now. Curator: Precisely! Art isn't merely about pretty things, but a conversation about identity, time, and perception itself. I have so much more to think about it now!