Sewing Cabinet c. 1938

Robert A. Young made this painting of a sewing cabinet with watercolor on paper. I can imagine him carefully applying thin washes of pigment, patiently building up the forms of the cabinet. There’s a meticulousness to the rendering, a real attention to detail. It reminds me a little of some of the folk art and self-taught artists I admire, those who create their own visual language through direct observation and personal expression. The wood grain is described with such care. Notice the subtle variations in color, the way he suggests depth and volume through shading. It's like he is not just depicting a sewing cabinet but also trying to capture the essence of wood itself. There is a stillness, a quietness to the piece that invites contemplation. It’s a painting about paying attention, about finding beauty in the everyday.