The Lacquer Room

Grace Cossington Smith

The Lacquer Room

Description

It was quite a surprise, I didn't know it was there, but I went down to get cup of tea … and found this lovely restaurant … I was struck by its colour and general design the moment I saw it … Scarlet, green and white held me spellbound...

Grace Cossington Smith, 1979

Inspired by the art deco designs and vivid colours of the David Jones department store cafe in Sydney, 'The Lacquer Room' embodies the modern inter-war urban experience. The rich red and scattered patterns of the chairs are contrasted with the gleaming green of the lacquered tables, set against the brightness of the walls and polished floors. Grace Cossington Smith’s bold approach to colour exudes a sense of celebrating the new, similar to the contemporary consumer culture epitomised by the department store.

Details

Work Date:
1936
Location:
20th & 21st c Australian art
Dimensions:
74.0 x 90.8 cm board; 87.0 x 104.0 x 3.9 cm frame
Medium:
oil on paperboard on plywood
Credit Line:
Purchased 1967