Cradle c. 1938

This is Rex F. Bush’s ‘Cradle’, a watercolour and graphite drawing. Look at the way he’s carefully shaded each part, trying to capture the look of wooden furniture. Watercolour is a tricky medium, it's hard to control - a bit like life, I guess. Here, Bush uses it almost like a technical drawing, but the texture gives the wood a beautiful glow. See how the spindles of the cradle become more solid towards the center of the structure? There’s a similar effect on the lower section, too. It’s very subtle. This work reminds me of some of the Shaker art I've seen - simple, functional, and beautiful in its own way. It makes you wonder what kind of stories this cradle could tell, right? Just a snapshot of a moment in time, an open invitation to imagine the rest.