Trastero (chest) c. 1939

Margery Parish made this watercolor drawing of a chest sometime in the 20th century. I love how she breaks down the object into different sections. The top piece, with its flower emblem, is so different to the shelving beneath. Look at the color variations across the wooden shelves, the use of ochre and sienna, and how the eye jumps around, making the chest appear in three dimensions. Then notice the precision of the lines. It’s like Parish is inviting us to see the world as she did, bit by bit. Each area is given the same care and consideration. I’m reminded of the work of contemporary painter Lois Dodd. She was also fascinated by commonplace objects and seeing the beauty in everyday life, finding poetry in the mundane. What I enjoy most is the way that these artists manage to show us new ways of seeing old things.