Cherry Chest of Drawers c. 1941

Joseph Ficcadenti’s cherry chest of drawers is rendered with pencil and watercolor on paper; it’s small, only 18 x 14 inches. It's quite charming, really. I can imagine Ficcadenti carefully constructing this image, meticulously layering the warm reddish-browns and tans to give the illusion of depth and form. It’s so different from how I work, but I can appreciate the dedication, the intense focus it must have taken to bring this piece of furniture to life on paper. Look at the grain of the wood, suggested by these delicate lines, the way the light seems to catch the edges. And the little brass knobs! Ficcadenti probably delighted in capturing all the details. It reminds me of the Shaker craft tradition, this kind of humble, practical simplicity elevated through craft and attention. It’s lovely to think of artists, past and present, all in conversation with one another through the things that we make.