Sewing Table c. 1938

Ernest A. Towers Jr. made this small watercolour study of a sewing table. I’m fascinated by the way the transparent washes of brown, umber, and rose blend to create a sense of depth on the surface of the paper, a bit like marbling. It’s a lovely example of how an artist can explore the interplay between form and function through the act of painting. Look closely at the way the light catches the curves of the table's legs, how the artist uses thin, controlled lines to define the edges. There is an almost diagrammatic quality to the overall image as if it could be a plate in a design catalogue. The smaller drawing in the bottom left corner really adds to this feel. Like the work of Charles Demuth, who also created watercolour illustrations of furniture, Towers transforms a mundane object into something both practical and beautiful. In doing so he prompts us to think about the everyday items that surround us.