Armchair c. 1936

This drawing of an armchair, in pen and watercolor, captures a very particular object. The hand of the anonymous artist seems to caress the image, lingering on the baroque swirls of the wood carving and the texture of the woven seat and back. I imagine this artist painstakingly rendering each curve and flourish, maybe a bit like writing a letter to a faraway friend. What were they thinking as they translated this three-dimensional object into two dimensions? I’m struck by the fact that they’ve chosen to represent it in soft, neutral tones. Look how they've captured the play of light and shadow! There is a muted earthy palette, creating depth and form. I wonder if this was a study for a larger design project, or simply a loving record of a beautiful object. It reminds me of other artists who have found inspiration in everyday objects, elevating the mundane to the extraordinary. The history of art is filled with these kinds of conversations across time. Painting isn’t just about what we see, but how we feel, think, and remember.