Connnecticut Chest 1935 - 1942

Here’s Charles Squires's watercolour of a Connecticut Chest. Squires clearly had a fascination for design, particularly the way forms can be simplified and repeated. It feels like he’s asking himself how the object fits together, how the light falls, and how he might capture its essence on paper. Squires had me thinking about the interplay between the artist's hand and the object itself. The dark tones, contrasted with the bright floral decorations make it appear that the object is emerging from the darkness. I wonder if the painting is an interpretation of an actual chest and how the object has been simplified and stylized in the painting? There’s a wonderful tension there, between representation and abstraction, tradition and innovation. This piece reminds me of those anonymous painters who are constantly borrowing, referencing, and transforming each other’s work. It’s a reminder that art is a conversation across time, inspiring new forms of expression and creativity.