Side Chair c. 1940

Marian Curtis Foster made this watercolor drawing of a chair, and it’s like she’s asking us to pull up a seat and think about how she sees the world. I wonder, was she thinking about line, form, or function as she painted? The delicate washes of brown and gold create a sense of depth and texture, like she’s trying to capture not just how the chair looks, but how it feels to sit in it. Those curved legs and that velvety seat look pretty comfy. And then I start thinking about other artists who have painted furniture, like Van Gogh and his chair. I can imagine Marian sitting at that chair, sketchbook in hand, lost in thought, just like so many artists before and after her. It's like we are all in conversation across time, and these humble objects become portals for shared experiences.