Shaker Cabinet 1935 - 1942

Editor: So, this watercolor drawing is entitled "Shaker Cabinet" by George V. Vezolles, dating from between 1935 and 1942. It has such a clean, austere presence; the geometrical precision is really striking. What stands out to you, with your expertise? Curator: Precisely that geometry. Consider the interplay of rectangles. The drawers and cabinet doors echo each other, creating a visual rhythm. Note also the subtle variations in color, the ways in which light defines the form. Do you see how the artist uses shadow to articulate volume, transforming simple shapes into a three-dimensional object? Editor: Yes, I see what you mean. It is a kind of dialogue between shape and shade. I am wondering what the goal was with using such a basic object? Curator: Exactly! We should not be confined to looking at 'the what', but to instead turn to considering 'the how', its lines, and the arrangement of them. Editor: That's interesting! I have always struggled separating form and content, seeing the former as a means to transmit the latter, however now it makes me wonder, does pure visuality render context obsolete, or does context affect one's observation nonetheless? Curator: Context always shapes reception. Our understanding is richer because of it! Ultimately, though, it is the piece's own formal arrangement that will allow us to derive such information about it. Editor: It's fascinating how a focus on form reveals so much! Thanks, I’ve definitely gained a new appreciation for this watercolor drawing.