Side Chair 1936

Arthur Johnson made this drawing of a side chair, we don’t know exactly when, and it’s done with watercolor and graphite. He’s really thinking through the design process, focusing on details in a way that feels very precise, yet also, somehow, kind of dreamy. Look at the red of the chair! It’s got this fantastic, almost vibrating energy. You can see where the graphite gives the fabric texture, and how it’s been overlaid with watercolor washes to create depth and shadow. The paint is applied in thin layers, allowing the graphite underneath to peek through. This really invites you in for a closer look, so you can appreciate the subtleties of Johnson's technique. Then there are the legs, so delicately rendered. Overall, this drawing reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, with that same blend of meticulousness and meditative presence. What do you think?