Wash Chest 1935 - 1942

This little Wash Chest painting—artist Alfred H. Smith, sometime between 1855 and 1995—appears to be made with restrained yet confident lines in a muted palette. It gives the impression of having emerged slowly, mindfully. I imagine Smith, squinting slightly, gently coaxing the form into being with each careful brushstroke, much like Morandi and his quiet still lifes. It's a simple rendering, but the composition is so balanced, so resolved. The wood of the furniture is carefully rendered, with an exactitude that reminds me of Agnes Martin's dedication to finding perfection in line and tone. It’s as though Smith is saying, "This is how I see the world." And I, in turn, wonder what he sees. It’s this kind of intimate exchange that makes painting such a rich conversation, don't you think?