Newel Post 1935 - 1942

This watercolor drawing of a newel post was made by an anonymous artist and it presents a meditation on the act of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world. Look at the way the artist uses thin washes to build up the form, and how the color palette, limited to variations of brown, creates a sense of warmth and depth. The lines are precise, but there's also a delicacy to the touch, a lightness that keeps it from feeling too rigid. Notice the subtle shadows and highlights that give the wood its volume. It's like a conversation between light and shadow, isn't it? The way the artist paid attention to detail reminds me of Agnes Martin, who found beauty in the simplest of forms. It is a reminder that art doesn't always have to shout to be heard, sometimes the quietest voices have the most to say.