Shaker Chest of Drawers c. 1936

Ray Holden made this drawing of a Shaker Chest of Drawers sometime during his lifetime, using what looks like graphite and watercolor on paper. The calm, quiet tones are so soothing, aren’t they? The light washes and careful lines give us an intimate view of the wood grain, the very material that makes up this object, as well as a sense of depth, almost as if the chest is floating on the page. There's a real love in the way he's rendered the soft shadows and subtle variations in tone that give it shape and presence. It's funny, looking at this, I can’t help thinking of Agnes Martin. Her quiet, minimalist paintings, made with delicate washes of color, share a similar sensibility. Both artists, in their own way, invite us to slow down, to appreciate the simple beauty of form, material, and light. And maybe, to find a little bit of peace in the process.