Box Desk c. 1938

Leo Drozdoff made this painting of 'Box Desk' with what looks like watercolour and pencil, and it's all about the layering of detail. The way he's handled the medium is so interesting; it's meticulous, almost obsessive, in the way he's built up the textures of the wood. Look at the grain, how each line varies in tone and direction. There’s a real love for the object, a deep interest in the way light falls on its surface and articulates all those decorative flourishes. The colour palette is warm, earthy, dominated by browns and tans, but look closely and you'll see subtle shifts in hue. The beaded decoration down the edges of the top drawers is particularly compelling; each bead is carefully rendered, catching the light in a slightly different way. It's as if he's trying to capture the essence of the desk. Drozdoff’s painting reminds me of some of the early Renaissance masters, like Van Eyck, who had a similar interest in the material world and the play of light on surfaces. It’s all about paying attention to detail, celebrating the beauty of everyday objects.