“Stop to appreciate this armchair, a striking example of American Arts and Crafts design. Its honest use of materials and simple, functional form offer a powerful counterpoint to the elaborate styles of its era.”
This armchair, crafted from oak and upholstery around 1885, embodies the robust, handcrafted aesthetic that defined the Arts and Crafts movement in America. Its sturdy frame and clean lines reflect a rejection of the ornate, mass-produced furniture prevalent in the late 19th century, advocating instead for simplicity and quality materials. The design prioritizes function and comfort, evident in the broad seat and angled backrest, inviting the viewer to imagine settling into its embrace. The unadorned oak grain is celebrated for its natural beauty, a stark contrast to the highly finished, often disguised woods of earlier styles. This piece captures a pivotal moment in American design, looking back to pre-industrial craftsmanship while anticipating the modern emphasis on form following function.
- Artist
- Will H. Bradley
- Date
- 1885
- Medium
- Oak and upholstery
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 107.9 × 59.7 × 50.8 cm (42 1/2 × 23 1/2 × 20 in.)
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The visible grain of the oak wood, highlighting its natural texture.
The sturdy, squared-off legs and armrests, emphasizing durability.
The simple, unembellished upholstery, likely chosen for comfort and practicality.
The slight angle of the backrest, designed for ergonomic support.
Will H. Bradley
1868–1962 · United StatesAmerica's highest-paid artist of the early 1900s who brought Art Nouveau posters to the masses.
Further Works by Bradley
A Bacchante
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
A Lady in a Plumed Hat
Manchester Art Gallery
Henry Liverseege (1802–1832)
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
John Isherwood
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Joseph Brotherton (1783–1857), MP
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Lady with a Dog
Manchester Art Gallery
Portrait of a Seated Woman Sleeping
Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Sir Thomas Potter
Manchester Town Hall
More works to explore
Beyond Bradley: works from the same years.
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Cart with Red and White Ox
Vincent van Gogh · 1884 · Kröller-Müller Museum
Same era · 1870s–1900s
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884
Okada Saburosuke · 1884 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Madame Léon Clapisson
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1883 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Paris Street; Rainy Day
Kawabata Gyokushō · 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Still Life with Crayfish
Mikhail Larionov · 1900 · Museum Ludwig
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Evening Primroses in a Vase
Paul Gauguin · 1885
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Forêt de Compiègne
Berthe Morisot · 1885 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Studies of Pierre Renoir; His Mother, Aline Charigot; Nudes; and Landscape
Pierre-Auguste Renoir · 1885 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
The Sick Child
Edvard Munch · 1885 · National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Cows Drinking at a Pool
William Hart · 1886 · Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Rocks at Port-Goulphar, Belle-Île
Claude Monet · 1886 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Albert (René) Grenier (1858–1925)
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec · 1887 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
