Spaces had become delineated for specific purposes, like conversation, domestic duties, entertainment, solitude, or contemplation. The final style covered in Artful Interiors is that of modernity, which incorporates the mechanized innovations of World War II, and the social changes brought about by the war. The introduction of modern conveniences, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, lent considerable uniformity to interior design, as shown in the pages of a 1941 Sherwin Williams Co. paint catalog, and a decorating book from 1945, Furnishing with Color. More architectural and other modern visions include a rare 1942 publication celebrating the interior decoration of the Third Reich, featuring rooms designed by Albert Speer, and publications featuring homes envisioned by Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe. Library exhibitions explicate the relationship between the arts, sciences, and history in interpreting a historical movement, genre, or enduring idea by placing objects in their cultural context.
Admission is free.