Doll Chair c. 1936

Julie C. Brush created this watercolor painting entitled 'Doll Chair'. It may seem like a simple depiction of a miniature chair, but let's consider the deeper context. Paintings such as this one from the late nineteenth century were often associated with women artists. Confined by social norms to domestic subjects, women often depicted domestic scenes, children's toys, or interior decoration. But these images were not necessarily celebrations of domesticity. They could be subtle critiques of a social order that limited women's opportunities. Brush's 'Doll Chair' might be seen as a symbolic representation of the constraints placed upon women. The chair, small and delicate, echoes the limited roles assigned to women in society. Was Brush conscious of the power of art to challenge social norms? The resources to answer that question lie in the archives, in her personal papers, and in the exhibition records of her time. There we might discover the politics of imagery.