Bed Double 1935 - 1942

Virginia Kennady made this rendering of a 'Bed Double' in watercolor, and it's a really lovely thing. The brown palette is so warm, so inviting; it's like she’s inviting you to get into this bed. The whole thing is about the surface. Kennady renders the wood grain so meticulously, and each stroke is a kind of meditation on the form of the object. There's something both straightforward and deeply considered about it. Look at the curves of the headboard and footboard, and how the shadows suggest a sculptural presence. You get the sense she’s really thinking through the physical qualities of the object, not just its appearance. It reminds me a bit of some of the Shaker artists who were painting furniture around the same time, though there’s something about Kennady’s touch that feels a bit more personal. It's an intimate look at something both familiar and uniquely crafted.