Shaker Refectory Table c. 1939

This is Lon Cronk’s Shaker Refectory Table, it’s a drawing, and I’m guessing it’s made with watercolour. The colours are muted, giving it this very clean and almost diagrammatic feel. The thing about Shaker design is its austerity. It values simplicity and function over ornamentation. Looking at the way the artist has rendered the wood grain and the smooth, even finish suggests a deep appreciation for the inherent beauty of the materials themselves. And it’s interesting to note that whilst the overall impression is one of simplicity, when you look closer at the subtle variations in colour and tone, especially on the table top, you see that it is not quite so plain as it first appears. This reminds me of Agnes Martin, another artist with a minimalist aesthetic. Their work invites us to find beauty in the subtle details. They help us appreciate the quiet moments, and to be present in the here and now. Like a good painting, this table shows that art is an ongoing conversation about what it means to see and experience the world.