Rocking Chair 1935 - 1942

Edward A. Darby made this watercolour and graphite painting of a rocking chair sometime in the 20th Century. I love the unassuming nature of this picture. It's a detailed, careful study, but there's something very light and breezy about it too. The colours are muted and earthy, the rendering precise without being fussy, and the whole thing has the feel of a Sunday afternoon sketch. I find my eye drawn to the small, almost imperceptible shifts in tone across the surface of the chair. Darby's layering of translucent washes creates depth and volume that bring the chair to life. The floral pattern on the upholstery is particularly charming. It's not overworked or overly detailed, but rendered with just a few deft strokes and dabs of colour. It makes me think of other quiet, observational artists like Fairfield Porter, who found beauty in the everyday. Like Porter, Darby shows us that even the most ordinary objects can be worthy of our attention. It's a reminder that art isn't always about grand gestures, but can also be about the simple pleasure of looking closely at the world around us.