
The places we call home reflect who we are in all kinds of ways, from the deeply personal to broader cultural and socio-economic identities. In this presentation, we will explore how artists have depicted these most intimate spaces across historical and cultural contexts from the Roman murals of Pompeii to Vermeer’s sunlit interiors, from the palaces of kings to the tenements of New York City, from Japanese scrolls to contemporary photography. How do depictions of home reveal class status, cultural identity, and gender roles? What is shared and what is kept private? How do we construct and assert who we are within the places we inhabit? Thomas Wolfe said you can’t go home again, but maybe we can try.