Shaker Desk c. 1953

Alfred H. Smith made this drawing of a Shaker Desk sometime between 1855 and 1995. The warm browns and reds create a sense of the real object, but the marks of the coloured pencil are what bring it to life. Up close, you can see the layering of strokes, building up density in areas of shadow, like around the hinges of the desk or the edges of the top cabinet. It's not just a flat rendering; there's a sensitivity to the wood grain, a feel for how light plays across the surface. Look at the vertical strokes on the right-hand side, they give the drawing a sense of volume and depth. The Shaker aesthetic is all about simplicity and function, and the artist’s emphasis on the material is a reflection of that ethos. You could look at the drawings of Agnes Martin if you want to see how other artists have approached a similar emphasis on simplicity. Ultimately, it's not about fixed meanings but about the ongoing conversation between form and function, mark and material.