Box Desk c. 1938

Leo Drozdoff made this little painting of a Box Desk in tones of warm brown. I like to think about the fact that someone sat with this, moving their hand, lost in the little details of the carving. I can imagine Drozdoff thinking carefully about the light and shadows that define the form. The top is a darker brown, maybe he wanted to suggest a different kind of wood, or just the effect of light falling on the surface. The legs are simple, giving the piece a sense of being grounded, sturdy. I wonder if he approached this like a portrait, trying to capture the essence of the piece. Thinking about other artists, it makes me think of Agnes Martin and her delicate renderings of everyday objects. It shows me how artists are always in conversation, borrowing and riffing off one another. Painting is this ongoing exchange, always evolving and surprising.