Desk c. 1940

Edna C. Rex created this drawing of a desk, possibly using watercolor, though it is hard to tell for sure. It is such a precise drawing, more of a technical drawing than a painting. I wonder what Rex was thinking when she made it? Was she dreaming of furniture making? Maybe she was feeling the joy in the crisp lines and clear design? Or maybe it was just a job? I feel a connection to Rex because, as a painter, I also love the challenge of capturing three-dimensional space on a flat surface. Rex has these little sketches of the side and front elevations in the corner, like she wants to explore the essence of this object. Drawing is such a direct way to engage with the world. It allows us to study, understand, and reimagine the things around us. Painting and drawing share an intimate relationship, a silent dialogue that spans centuries.