Desk c. 1936

Isadore Goldberg made this drawing of a desk, and what I see is a dedication to the act of observation. Imagine Goldberg, pencil in hand, carefully mapping out each drawer, each curve of the legs. It's a quiet act of translation, turning a solid, functional object into something else entirely. What was he thinking as he worked? Was he daydreaming about the letters that might be written on this desk, or the secrets it might hold? Look at the way he rendered the wood grain. It's not just about accuracy; it's about feeling the wood, understanding its texture and weight. And the light, too. He captured how it catches on the polished surface, bringing the desk to life. It’s not unlike the way Cezanne painted apples, imbuing the objects of the everyday with a sense of wonder. Artists are always talking to each other, across time and space, sharing this way of seeing.