Wooden Bench c. 1940

Edward Jewett created this delightful watercolor of a wooden bench sometime in the twentieth century. The palette is muted, dominated by the soft, grainy browns and tans of the wood itself. I can imagine Jewett carefully building up the image, layer by layer, trying to capture the heft and the texture of the wood. See how he’s used subtle shading to give it depth and volume? It makes me wonder what the bench was like in real life. Was it worn smooth by years of use? Did it sit in a garden, slowly decaying under moss and vines? There is something beautiful about a functional object rendered with such care. It reminds me of the Shaker ethos, where simplicity and utility are elevated to an art form. There's a conversation happening across time here, a passing down of ideas, and inspiration. You know, art is all about uncertainty, so it is up to us to create meaning.