See more objects with the tag furniture, pattern, domestic interiors, black and white, geometric, postmodern, cityscape.

See more objects with the color lightgrey grey dimgrey darkgrey or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

1983

  • Work on this object began.

1985

  • We acquired this object.

  • Work on this object ended.

2013

2015

2016

2025

  • You found it!

Print, Sitting Area, with View of the City

This is a Print. It was collective: Memphis and designed by George J. Sowden. It is dated 1983-85 and we acquired it in 1985. Its medium is screenprint on white wove paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

George Sowden moved to Italy in the 1970s to work with Ettore Sottsass Jr. and later became a founding member of the Memphis group. This print is one from series of designs for interiors covered in patterns that Sowden developed in collaboration with Nathalie du Pasquier. The interior features his design for the Oberoi armchair. Sowden used digital “clip art” of the city of Brussels to create the urban view from the window.

This object was donated by Nathalie Du Pasquier and George J. Sowden. It is credited Gift of Nathalie du Pasquier and George J. Sowden.

  • Katagami, Diamond Pattern
  • cut mulberry paper treated with persimmon tannin and silk thread.
  • Gift of Helen Snyder.
  • 1976-103-185

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

  • Textile, Gabon
  • cotton.
  • Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
  • 1990-31-1

Its dimensions are

H x W: 71 x 50.5 cm (27 15/16 x 19 7/8 in.)

It is signed

Signed in black ink, lower right: George Sowden / Milano 1985 / 24/99

Cite this object as

Print, Sitting Area, with View of the City; Designed by George J. Sowden (British, b. 1942); Collective: Memphis (Italy); Italy; screenprint on white wove paper; H x W: 71 x 50.5 cm (27 15/16 x 19 7/8 in.); Gift of Nathalie du Pasquier and George J. Sowden; 1985-69-5

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Energizing the Everyday: Gifts From the George R. Kravis II Collection.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18805589/ |title=Print, Sitting Area, with View of the City |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=10 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>