Day Bed c. 1936

This is a schematic drawing for a "Day Bed" by B. Holst-Grubbe, who lived from 1855 to 1995. The piece shows the bare bones of design, rendered with what looks like graphite on a warm, textured paper. I love the crisp lines and the almost obsessive detail in the rendering of the decorative elements. It makes me think about how we construct our spaces and the objects we choose to live with. There’s a vulnerability in showing all the measurements. It pulls back the curtain and reminds me of the labor involved in building furniture, and the human desire to create comfort and beauty in our lives. Look at the section labeled “Stretcher, Side and End Views”. The way the wood is shaped into little bobbles - those are the moments of expression! It feels very self-conscious. To me, this echoes the functional simplicity of Shaker design, but with a touch of ornate, almost baroque detailing. It makes me think of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, with his similarly pared down style and interest in subtle ornamentation. The conversation between artists across time is ongoing and endless!