Desk c. 1938

Dorothea Farrington made this drawing of a desk, we don't know when, using watercolour, graphite, and coloured pencil on paper. There's something so intimate about the way Farrington has rendered the wood grain, the shadows and highlights, it's like she’s really *looking* at this thing. The palette is muted but warm; browns, creams, and just a hint of red. Look at the way she’s used thin washes of colour to build up the form. You can almost feel the texture of the wood, which is quite something when you consider this is just graphite and watercolour on paper. Take a closer look at the handles, it's clear she really laboured over the details. The whole drawing is an act of care, of quiet attention. It's like a love letter to this everyday object. In this way, it’s got something of the same spirit as Agnes Martin, a quiet, meditative quality that belies its simple subject matter. It's an invitation to slow down and really see.