The Symbolism of the Empty Chair in Art

I often use empty chairs in my photography work to imply human occupation of space – past or present. Or the absence of humans. The chair is a stand-in for people, a character to occupy an otherwise empty space.

The chair can symbolize loss or the hope of a return. The chair can imply loneliness or a restful place to sit down after a long day or hike into the wilderness. A chair in a remote unexpected place can provide evidence of nearby human companionship or it can represent evidence of long-absent occupants in an abandoned space.

A chair is a familiar object. One we all use every day, an object distinctly created for the human body. The chair is a physical reminder of human occupation of space, a proxy for humans not currently in the space.

A chair can have character. Character-based on its design, based on its location, based on its condition and even based on its placement in regard to other objects around it.

A chair implies an extended commitment to a place. On a long hike you might choose a rock as a perch for a short rest but investing the time and effort in making a chair, with all of its pieces and complex joinery, is a commitment to spending time in a place, to have a meal, to talk with friends, to read the newspaper, to create a home.

Read more: https://www.dogfordstudios.com/symbolism-chair-art/

Above: Empty chair in remote Iceland by Edward M. Fielding - https://edward-fielding.pixels.com/featured/iceland-white-chair-wide-edward-fielding.html