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aria-expanded="false"> <span class="hamburger__line hamburger__line--1"></span> <span class="hamburger__line hamburger__line--2"></span> <span class="hamburger__line hamburger__line--3"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <main id="application-wrapper" class="application-wrapper" tabindex="0"> <div class="site-container page-content"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8 order-1 order-md-0"> <h1 class="jumbo text-uppercase mb-3">A Dark, A Light, A Bright: The Designs of Dorothy Liebes</h1> <div class="default-styles medium-body-text mb-8"> <p>Designer and weaver Dorothy Liebes (1897–1972), who introduced handcraft and brilliant color to the modern interior, was among the most influential designers of the 20th century. This digital platform explores how the “<a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=3#all-pages">Liebes Look</a>”—which combined vivid color, lush texture, and often a glint of metallic—became inextricably linked with the American modern aesthetic. Choose a topic to explore her impact on mid-20th-century <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=8#all-pages">interiors</a>, <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=6#all-pages">fashion</a>, <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=6#all-pages">film</a>, and <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=5#all-pages">industrial design</a>, and meet some of the <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=7#all-pages">studio weavers</a> who contributed to the success of the Dorothy Liebes Studio.</p> </div> <div id="post-journey-items-wrapper" class="row"> <div id="post-journey-items" class="col" data-ajax-link="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=sandbox_get_journey"> <div style="min-height: 191px;"> <h2 class="h2-display text-uppercase">Your journey so far</h2> <div class="mt-2">Loading...</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row small-gutters mt-8 mb-3" name="all-pages" data-smooth-scroll-immediate="true"> <div class="col"> <h2 class="h2-display text-uppercase">All pages</h2> <div class="small-body-text"> <span class="highlight-indicator"></span>Your journey so far </div> </div> </div> <div class="row small-gutters"> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/category/the-liebes-look/" class="col-12 category-grid-item-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="3" data-journey-trackable-type="category"> <div class="category-grid-item-link__inner position-relative"> <div class="category-grid-item__name-wrapper d-flex flex-column align-items-center justify-content-center text-center p-3"> <div class="category-grid-item__name h2-display text-uppercase pt-2">The Liebes Look</div> </div> </div> <div class="medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title></div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/argonaut/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="552" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/07/fig-3.png" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/07/fig-3.png" data-caption="<p><strong> Fig. 3</strong> Interior of the Theatre for the Performing Arts, United States Pavilion, Brussels World’s Fair, 1958; Photographer unknown; Dorothy Liebes Papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC</p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>Argonaut</p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/lurex/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="567" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/07/fig-1-718x1000.png" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/07/fig-1.png" data-caption="<p><strong>Fig. 1</strong> Advertisement, “The Thread of the Story is Lurex: Accessories to the Time,” 1954; Dorothy Liebes Papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution </p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>Lurex</p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/pretty-penny/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="90" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/3_Griffith_fig-17-1-e1683831383122-1000x756.png" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/3_Griffith_fig-17-1-e1683831383122.png" data-caption="<p><strong> Fig. 2</strong> Boardroom of City National Bank, Houston, Texas, 1947; Interior design by Brochsteins Inc. and Helene Sprong; Drapery panels (seen against the walls) designed by Dorothy Liebes; Photograph by Elwood M. Payne; Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Elwood M. Payne, New York &amp; Houston </p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>Pretty Penny</p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/ss-_independence_-and-ss-_constitution_/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="525" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/07/Erin_Dowding_6.png" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/07/Erin_Dowding_6.png" data-caption="<p><strong> Fig. 6</strong> First-class state cabins featuring a polarized porthole, upholstery by Dorothy Liebes, and sliding curtains created by the Liebes studio; Henry Dreyfuss Archive, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum</p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>SS <em>Independence</em> & SS <em>Constitution</em></p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/ss-santa-rosa-and-ss-santa-paula/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="358" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/06/AAA-AAA_liebdoro_3344699-edit-1-e1688655530911-888x1000.jpg" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/06/AAA-AAA_liebdoro_3344699-edit-1-e1688655530911.jpg" data-caption="<p><strong> Fig. 2</strong> Curtains by Dorothy Liebes, 1958; the one on the far left is the SS _Santa Rosa_ drapery. Dorothy Liebes Papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC </p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>SS <em>Santa Rosa</em> & SS <em>Santa Paula</em></p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/ss-united-states/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="68" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/fig-1-1-e1683820281622-1000x694.jpg" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/fig-1-1-e1683820281622.jpg" data-caption="<p><strong> Fig. 1</strong> SS _United States_ First Class Observation Lounge, Smyth, Urqhart &amp; Marckwald, interior designers, drapery and upholstery by Dorothy Liebes, 1952; Dorothy Liebes Papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC </p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>SS <em>United States</em></p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/the-marco-polo-club/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="73" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/fig-4-1-e1687857908310-1000x875.png" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/fig-4-1-e1687857908310.png" data-caption="<p><strong> Fig. 4</strong> Marco Polo Club dining room, Donald Deskey Associates, 1960; Donald Deskey Archive, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Gift of Donald Deskey, 1975-11-77 </p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>The Marco Polo Club</p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/the-persian-room/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="57" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/fig-2-e1683818327407-764x1000.jpg" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/fig-2-e1683818327407.jpg" data-caption="<p><strong> Fig. 2</strong> Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel, New York City, 1950; Interior design by Henry Dreyfuss (American, 1904–1972); Drapes laced with tiny electric lightbulbs and woven blinds designed by Dorothy Liebes; Henry Dreyfuss Archive, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1972-88-1; Image © Smithsonian Institution </p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>The Persian Room</p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/toss-pillows-and-tv-cushions/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="349" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/06/fig-6-e1686854471750.jpg" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/06/fig-6-e1686854471750.jpg" data-caption="<p><strong> Fig. 6</strong> Color advertisement for Pillows by Bloomcraft, Chicago Tribune Magazine, October 25, 1964 </p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>Toss Pillows and TV Cushions</p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/united-nations-delegates-dining-room/" class="col-6 col-md-4 col-xl-3 opacity-link mb-6" data-journey-trackable-id="105" data-journey-trackable-type="post"> <div class="background-image landscape-image-tall background-image lazy-image lazyload" style="background-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==);" data-bg="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/DE-Fig1-1000x780.jpg" data-src-full="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/DE-Fig1.jpg" data-caption="<p><strong> Fig. 1</strong> United Nations Delegates Dining Room, New York City, 1952; Moveable screens (shown in expanded position) designed by Dorothy Liebes; United Nations Photo Library; UN Photo / MB </p>"></div> <h3 class="post-grid-item__title medium-title theme-foreground-color text-shadow mt-2" data-journey-trackable-title><p>United Nations Delegates Dining Room</p> </h3> <div class="post-grid-item__labels tiny-title" style="margin-top: 2px;"> The Liebes Look, Essay </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 order-0 order-md-0 mb-3 md-md-0"> <div id="header__sidebar" class="header__sidebar mb-4"> <nav id="header__nav" class="header__nav large-body-text text-uppercase" data-page-path="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/about-the-exhibition/"> <div class="menu-main-menu-container"><ul id="menu-main-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-7" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-menu-item page_item page-item-5 current_page_item menu-item-7 menu-item-slug-overview" data-slug="overview"><a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/" aria-current="page">Overview</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8 menu-item-slug-about-the-exhibition" data-slug="about-the-exhibition"><a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/about-the-exhibition/">About the Exhibition</a></li> <li id="menu-item-571" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-571 menu-item-slug-the-publication" data-slug="the-publication"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300266153/a-dark-a-light-a-bright/">The Publication</a></li> </ul></div> </nav> <div class="row mt-6"> <div class="col-6 tiny-title"> <div class="mb-2">By Topic:</div> <ul class="link-list"> <li> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/#all-pages" class="opacity-link ">All</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=10#all-pages" class="opacity-link ">Dorothy Liebes</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=3#all-pages" class="opacity-link active">The Liebes Look</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=8#all-pages" class="opacity-link ">The Modern Interior</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=7#all-pages" class="opacity-link ">Studio Weavers</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=5#all-pages" class="opacity-link ">Better & Better for Less & Less</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=6#all-pages" class="opacity-link ">Fashion & Film</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/overview/?category=9#all-pages" class="opacity-link ">The Idea Factory</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer id="footer" class="footer my-gutter"> </footer>  <noscript> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-WS2K5DC" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript>  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/themes/cooper-hewitt-hypercard/assets/javascripts/lib/jquery.min.js" id="jquery-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/dorothy-liebes/wp-content/themes/cooper-hewitt-hypercard/assets/javascripts/dist/application.min.js?ver=1730409928" id="application-js"></script> <script> (function() { var footer = document.getElementById('footer'); 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