Shaker School Desk c. 1936

Ray Holden made this drawing of a Shaker School Desk in an unknown medium. It looks like watercolor, maybe. The tones of the timber are warm and kind of cozy, not unlike a Morandi painting in its simplicity. The process here is about observation, but it is also about how seeing becomes knowing, how the artist slows down time to really understand the object. Look at the subtle line work and delicate shading that gives the desk its volume. The artist has been very precise in their choice of color, using delicate browns to render the wood grain, but also, a slight deviation from the exact, like the blue tint of the page, adds to its charm. This element shapes our emotional response, evoking a sense of peace, contemplation and the pleasure of looking. Holden's picture reminds me of Agnes Martin's minimalist approach in rendering the essence of the subject matter. Like Martin, the artist embraces ambiguity, finding beauty in simplicity and inviting us to pause and reflect on the quiet presence of everyday objects.