Chest c. 1938

Margery Parish made this ‘Chest’ using what looks like watercolour and maybe gouache on paper. The dark brown tones against the creamy paper feel like a subdued party; it's that mix of serious and playful that gets me every time. The surface has a velvety, almost matte feel, which is interesting because you can still see the hand of the artist in those little variations of tone. Look at the lid; it’s not just brown, it's got layers, nuances. It's like she's not just depicting a chest but capturing the very essence of it. The eye is drawn to those little starbursts, how the radiating lines are off-kilter, it gives the whole thing a kind of handmade, heartfelt vibe. I love that. The colours and simple but powerful shapes remind me a little of Hilma af Klint. The piece feels like it is about something more than meets the eye. It’s this open ended feeling that makes it so compelling.