Chest c. 1936

Leon Witt made this drawing of a chest, with what looks like watercolor, sometime in the 20th Century. It’s about observation, but also about feeling your way through the depiction of something, like touch but with your eyes, you know? I like how Witt’s marks aren't just about describing the chest, but about how the chest makes you feel. The texture of the carved wood is rendered with a kind of loving care, almost as if the artist is caressing the surface with the brush. Look at the way he renders the monogram "MS" at the center of the piece; it's not just a label, it's an invitation. It's like he's saying, "Come closer, let's share a secret". I find that this piece reminds me a little of the meticulousness you see in some of Agnes Martin's drawings, although with a very different feel. There's a similar dedication to a kind of slow looking. Ultimately, though, the beauty of art lies in its ability to evoke a multitude of responses, doesn’t it?