Wall Cabinet 1935 - 1942

Ethelbert Brown made this drawing of a wall cabinet, but we don't know when or where. Look at the way he has carefully built up the image, layering washes of pale, watery paint. You can almost feel the textures of the carved wood. I find myself drawn to the door of the cabinet, hanging slightly open to reveal its intricate decoration. It’s incredible how he has meticulously rendered this, capturing the quality of the wood and the way the light catches the carved surfaces. He seems to be interested in the process of making itself. It reminds me a little of some of the drawings of Charles Burchfield, an artist who was invested in representing his everyday life through watercolour painting. Ultimately, Brown's drawing captures the humble beauty of an everyday object.