Hutch Table c. 1939

Nicholas Gorid made this Hutch Table with watercolour and graphite sometime between 1855 and 1995. I love the way the artist has built up the tonal range on the wood. It's like he’s trying to find the real colour of the wood through painting. Have a look at the tabletop, in particular; you can see the way the artist’s mark-making follows the grain. Look at the subtle gradations; darker shades that suggest knots in the wood, and a delicate blending, or perhaps a dry brushing technique to create a smooth surface. It’s not about a capital-R Realist depiction, but about finding the essence of the material through layering paint. This reminds me of some of the landscapes by Agnes Martin, in the way a very restricted palette can open up a surprisingly wide emotional register. Like Martin, Gorid coaxes something sublime from the everyday. This table isn't just a table; it's a whole world.