Interior perspective drawings of Hotel Siwanoy, Mount Vernon, NY.] [Interior perspective of dining room 1935

Winold Reiss created this interior perspective drawing of the Hotel Siwanoy's dining room in Mount Vernon, New York, employing colored pencils. Note the series of columns, a motif deeply rooted in architectural history, symbolizing stability, strength, and order. From ancient Egyptian temples to Greek and Roman structures, columns have signified grandeur and societal structure. Here, these pillars, rendered in pale green, create a rhythm, a visual echo. Consider the arch of the window. The arch, throughout history, has appeared in various forms across cultures. From the Roman arches symbolizing triumph and passage to its prominent role in Islamic architecture expressing spiritual transcendence, arches are more than structural elements; they frame perspectives. The pale archway mirrors the stage, highlighting the cyclical return of design elements, subtly engaging with our collective memory.