Sheraton Painted Three-Back Settee 1935 - 1942

This watercolor drawing of a Sheraton Painted Three-Back Settee, made by an anonymous artist, captures a beautiful piece of furniture with a delicate touch. The pastel color palette and gentle linework give it a whimsical, almost dreamlike quality. There’s a tenderness in the way the colors blend; the greens and pinks feel soft, chalky, like powdered pigments. Looking closely at the fruit and floral motifs, you can sense the artist's hand moving carefully, building up the forms with layers of translucent color. The drawing feels like a meditation on the settee, a loving observation of its form and details. This piece reminds me of the work of contemporary artists like Katherine Bernhardt, who also use a playful, intuitive approach to color and form. Both artists embrace the imperfections and irregularities that come with working by hand, and that is what makes the piece so special.