Church Pew 1935 - 1942

J. Henry Marley made this careful drawing of a Church Pew with graphite on paper. I am interested in how this drawing acts like a blueprint, mapping out a structure for living and sociality. Look at those crisp lines, that sense of measured precision. I can almost feel the cool graphite sliding across the paper. It makes me wonder, what was Marley thinking as he drew each line, each curve? He probably wasn't thinking of the way the light would hit it, or the way it would feel to sit there with other people. In a way, it’s like a musical score, a set of instructions that another person will bring to life. And that little ripple, that little curve on the bottom – it's like a grace note, a small detail that adds a touch of humanity to an otherwise practical form. It reminds me how design can be a conversation across time, a way of one artist speaking to another, inspiring new possibilities and connections. Because ultimately, a church pew is not just a seat, it's a space where people gather, connect, and share their experiences.