Curatorial Narrative This satirical illustration, created in 1919, finds itself nestled within the nascent era of Modernism. Its author, an anonymous figure, employs a linear brushwork style to convey a sense of detachment and irony. A still life composition, typically a celebration of everyday objects, is here subverted by the use of sepia tones and brown hues that evoke a sense of weariness, as if the subjects are indeed being kept down on the farm. The overall effect is one of wistful resignation. When enlarged to 44×57 inches, the palette’s sepia undertones take on an almost material quality, its atmospheric weight imparting a sense of depth and tactility to the surrounding space. The linear brushstrokes, previously suggestive of a certain severity, now begin to interact with the spatial rhythm of the room, creating a sense of visual tension that is heightened by the subtle interplay between chromatic structure and lighting be