Artwork
Things Old and New
Things Old and New is a watercolor work on paper by the Regionalist artist Wilhelmina Palmer. It dates from 1930 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Wilhelmina Palmer's 1930 watercolour, Things Old and New, captures the artist's sitting room, juxtaposing traditional and modern elements in a cozy domestic setting.
Subject & Meaning
The scene contrasts old (spinning wheel, ornate furniture) with new (purple sofa, possibly a contemporary choice at the time), reflecting the coexistence of past and present in everyday life.
Technique & Style
Palmer's watercolour technique emphasizes detail, evident in the rendered textures (floral rug, wood grain) and small objects (teapot, clock), creating a sense of intimacy and observational accuracy.
History & Provenance
Created in 1930, the work's provenance is not detailed here, but its depiction suggests a personal, possibly autobiographical, representation of the artist's living space.
Context
The painting reflects the early 20th-century middle-class domestic experience, where inherited or antique items coexisted with newer, fashionable pieces.
Legacy
As part of Wilhelmina Palmer's oeuvre, Things Old and New contributes to her documented body of work, accessible through further research on the artist.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wilhelmina Palmer painted small, delicate scenes in watercolor around the 1930s, often mixing everyday items with found objects.
Untitled
The Dining Room at No.3 The Close, Winchester
View of a living room
Perspective design for a dining room by William Henry Haynes & Co. London
Untitled
Watercolour
Untitled
My dining room
The Studio, New House, Rye
Untitled
A winter evening
The Music Room of Archduchess Margarete, Princess of Saxony, in Schloss Ambras