Chair 1935 - 1942

This drawing by Herbert Marsh gives us two views of a chair, rendered in simple lines and handwritten measurements. It's a plan, sure, but it's also a tender act of observation. I love that Marsh let his process show. He hasn't tried to hide the mechanics of his drawing – the tentative lines, the scribbled numbers. The chair isn't just a static object here; it's something Marsh is trying to understand, piece by piece. Look at the flourish on the armrests. It's almost like a little wave, a friendly hello from the inanimate world. It reminds me of some of the technical drawings made by artists like Leonardo da Vinci or even the architectural plans of someone like Frank Lloyd Wright. But while those drawings aimed for precision and grandeur, Marsh's chair has a humble, intimate quality. It's as if he's inviting us not just to see the chair, but to feel the love and care that went into its design.