Bed c. 1936

Otto Hake made this watercolour drawing of a bed, sometime between 1870 and 1940. The rendering is precise, almost architectural, but the use of watercolour gives it a softness, an intimacy. It's like a love letter to the craft. Look at how Hake captures the texture of the wood. The grain is suggested with delicate, almost transparent washes, allowing the paper to peek through. There's a beautiful tension between the rigid geometry of the bed frame and the organic, flowing lines of the carved details. Those finials, topped with what looks like pineapples, have a playful quality and it makes me think of folk art traditions, where everyday objects are elevated through whimsical decoration. The choice of warm, earthy tones evokes a sense of comfort. This makes me think of Charles Burchfield's architectural watercolors, which find the sublime in the mundane. Ultimately, Hake's drawing reminds us that art is not just about representation, but about imbuing the ordinary with beauty, inviting us to see the world with fresh eyes.