Table c. 1938

Arthur Mathews made this drawing of a table, maybe in the late 19th century, using what looks like watercolor or gouache. It's all about the sheen of the wood, rendered with these very precise, controlled marks. You can tell he's really thinking about how light falls across the surface, making the whole thing glow with warmth. There's something so satisfying about the way he’s built up the image, layer by layer. Look at the tabletop, how the grain is evoked with thin, transparent washes. Then there's the darker edges, defining the shape with such clarity. It’s this back and forth between soft and hard edges that brings the table to life. The color is all in the brown-red-orange family. It reminds me a little of some of Agnes Martin’s drawings, where she uses these delicate lines to create a sense of quiet contemplation. Both artists share this commitment to process, where the act of making becomes a form of meditation. In the end, it's the simplicity and the care that really get to me.