Chest of Drawers c. 1938

This meticulous drawing of a chest of drawers was made by Lorenz Rothkranz. The artist shows the design of the chest of drawers from different angles, noting the dimensions, in clear, concise lines of ink on paper. I can imagine Rothkranz measuring every detail, thinking about the object not only as an item of furniture but also as a thing of beauty. I imagine him lost in the architecture of the piece—the proportions, the way the light falls, the satisfying repetition of the decorative elements. The care with which the artist approached this work is remarkable. His lines aren't just descriptive; they also convey the intention of the original artist who made the chest of drawers. It reminds me that artists are always in conversation, building upon what came before. And I see painting as a way of thinking, a way of understanding, and a way of being in the world. It's an ongoing inquiry, an act of reaching.