Chest of Drawers c. 1938

This scaled drawing of a chest of drawers was made by Lorenz Rothkranz sometime between 1855 and 1995. It’s all about line, precision, and measure, creating a kind of architectural portrait of an object. Look at how the lines describe the surface, the way the ornamental details are carefully mapped out. This isn't just about representation; it’s about understanding form through a process of meticulous observation and recording. The texture isn’t physical but visual, built from the density and variation of the linework. Think of the way the artist builds up tone and depth through cross-hatching, giving a sense of volume to the flat surface. The marks show us the artist's way of seeing the object. The whole piece reminds me a bit of some of the architectural drawings of Sol LeWitt, particularly in its systematic approach. Both artists share an interest in reducing objects to their essential forms. Art is so interesting, isn’t it? It’s an ongoing conversation across time.