Gate-legged Table c. 1937

This small drawing of a table was made by B. Holst-Grubbe, who was born in 1855 and died in 1995. It's just lines on paper but feels kind of alive, don't you think? Looking at this, I can see the artist carefully measuring out the dimensions, trying to get every detail just right. There is such an intimacy and attention to detail here: all those delicate lines forming the shape of the table. I can imagine them thinking about the best ways to build a table that is functional and beautiful. The scale of the drawing reminds me of the kinds of furniture drawings that were common in past centuries. I imagine that Holst-Grubbe saw a real table like this in the Brooklyn Museum and then carefully documented every dimension, so other people could learn from it. These drawings are part of a visual conversation that spans generations, and it's pretty cool to be a part of it.