Twee fauteuils 1895 - 1935

Here are two little watercolours by Léon Laroche, showing chairs, maybe designs for chairs, or records of chairs. What strikes me is how tenderly observed they are: the delicate use of line and colour and the way the forms are gently built up. This feels like a very personal, almost intimate process. Look at the chair on the right. The rendering of the blue is so subtle, so nuanced. It feels as though the artist is caressing the surface with the brush, almost as if to test the density of the object by painting it. The way the watercolour seeps into the paper, staining it with these muted tones, creates a sense of depth and atmosphere. You can imagine the studio space where the artist was at work. This feels like a slow, contemplative practice. I’m reminded of Agnes Martin, whose work also explores the meditative qualities of line and colour. Though seemingly simple, both artists’ works reveal a profound sensitivity to the material qualities of their chosen medium, inviting us to slow down and truly see.