A Connecticut-type Hadley Chest c. 1936

Martin Partyka made this drawing of a Connecticut-type Hadley Chest at some point between 1855 and 1995. He used pencil and colored pencil and I find myself imagining him with his materials, carefully observing the object. I wonder what it was like for Partyka to create this? The symmetry of the chest and its decorations are so pleasing. I love the detail with which the artist has painstakingly depicted the carved flowers and leafy patterns on the chest. There's something really honest about his desire to replicate the original object in great detail. The color palette is so restrained, it must have taken patience to render the different tonal variations of the wood. Partyka is in conversation with other artists through this piece; folk art, and traditional craft, all inspiring his creativity. This drawing reminds us that art is a form of expression and an embrace of ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.