Writing Armchair c. 1940

Curator: Ah, here's a deceptively simple piece that truly speaks volumes about form and function. This is "Writing Armchair," a drawing, believed to have been created around 1940, rendered in pencil on paper. Editor: At first glance, I thought these were abstract architectural studies—but "writing armchair" conjures a comforting, yet surprisingly precise intention, don't you think? Curator: It certainly does! Notice how Livingstone uses a pure line, almost academic in its precision, to delineate these forms. He meticulously measures each section, transforming utilitarian furniture legs into objects worthy of contemplation. The drawing isn't just documentation, it's about the geometric purity. Editor: It's a rather beautiful distillation, indeed. This focus highlights how repeated shapes alter perceptions – creating variety out of something inherently standardized. How fascinating the play is between pure functionality and sheer aesthetic observation! One gets a feeling that the artist really had a joy to study the forms. Curator: I love how it invites us to look past the mundane. Each line reveals careful thought to its shape; the intention transcends simple utility to explore form and structure, making ordinary objects suddenly extraordinary. In its stillness, there is also a sense of movement like a silent rhythm echoing a dance. Editor: A visual poem made with numbers! This armchair is revealed less like something used every day, but an expression instead. A piece designed thoughtfully, so it moves beyond usability; something that captures an ideal almost like how Greek philosophers viewed platonic forms. Curator: Precisely! It encourages a sense of looking not only for practical purposes, but beyond into pure shape. So thank you, Rolland Livingstone, for changing what seems ordinary forever by the light you gave "Writing Armchair." Editor: Thanks to seeing how ordinary things, in this moment, truly reach remarkable presence if someone only chooses for what could potentially become even more powerful!