Hitchcock Chair c. 1937

Here's Harry Jennings' watercolour and graphite on paper of a Hitchcock chair – it’s a technical drawing, but it feels so much more than that. The sepia tones and the almost forensic breakdown of the chair’s constituent parts evoke a sense of nostalgia, as if Jennings is trying to capture a memory. I imagine him poring over the chair, carefully tracing its curves and flourishes, almost as if he’s trying to understand not just how it’s made, but why. Look at the section details! Is he thinking about mass production or craft, or is he simply interested in the chair as a formal object? I’m touched by his dedication to the task. His drawing reminds me of the blurry line between design and art, and the quiet beauty in everyday objects. It’s a prompt to slow down and really see the world around us. Jennings is in conversation with the chair, and now, so are we.