Side Chair 1936

Lawrence Phillips made this drawing of a chair at an unknown date, in an unknown location and with unknown materials. But the real question is, did he make the chair? Or just draw it? I love the way the artist has paid attention to the details of this chair and how he renders this in paint. Look at the lyre shape on the back of the chair, like a little musical instrument. I'd say that the legs are my favorite bit. I love how the color darkens and becomes more detailed towards the bottom of each leg, like an animal's foot. Or perhaps the feet of a satyr or other mythological figure. This reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi, who endlessly painted the same bottles and vases. Perhaps Phillips made many drawings of many chairs. Art isn't just about objects, it's about the process of seeing.