Love Seat c. 1942

This watercolor of a love seat was painted by Ralph Morton at an unknown date. What strikes me first is the rendering of a really soft and plush object. The colors are muted, yet there’s such clarity, the lines so definite. I imagine him observing closely, trying to capture the way light plays on the fabric, the subtle shifts in tone, and the curves. It is so gentle, that I can imagine sitting on this very seat and feeling the softness and sinking in a little. This is how art is like a conversation across time, isn't it? Ralph put his feelings and perceptions into his artwork, and it is something for me and you to experience. He’s teaching me to pay attention to the softness, even when it seems like it is so simple.