Drawing for Chair 1935 - 1942

Jack Bochner made this technical drawing of a ‘Dutch Chair’ from around 1720 to 1730, with pencil on paper. I like to imagine him bent over a drafting table, precisely measuring and recording every curve and joint. It’s a way of really seeing, you know? The chair, rendered in precise lines, offers a view from the front, back, and side. The paper is buff and has a timeless quality, echoing the antique nature of the chair itself, found in the South Parlor of the Wetherfield House. It’s like Bochner is having a conversation across time, connecting with the original craftsmen through careful observation and documentation. Artists often do this, translating and reinterpreting the world around them, like a painter using a brush to capture light, or a sculptor shaping clay. Each mark, each measurement, is an act of interpretation. It’s not just about representation; it's about understanding, appreciating, and maybe even honoring the work of those who came before.