Corner Cupboard c. 1941

Byron Dingman created this rendering of a corner cupboard sometime in the 20th century. It’s a delicate dance of watercolor on paper, and you can almost feel Dingman’s concentration as he coaxes the wood grain to life with subtle washes of color. He’s got a real feel for the light here, doesn’t he? I imagine him studying the original, maybe in a dimly lit room, trying to capture the essence of this humble object. You know, it kind of reminds me of Agnes Martin, the way she used simple forms and repetition to create something almost meditative. There’s a quietness to this piece, a sense of reverence for everyday objects. And what do you think? Is this his way of preserving a piece of history, or is he simply drawn to the beauty of functional design? Either way, it’s a tender ode to craftsmanship and the stories objects can tell.