Inlaid Wood Table c. 1936

This watercolor of an inlaid wood table was made by Sebastian Simonet, though we don't know exactly when. Just imagine Simonet absorbed in the intricacies of wood design. With its geometric patterns and earthy tones, the table almost feels like a miniature landscape. The tabletop—a complex arrangement of triangles—could almost be fields seen from above, couldn’t it? I picture Simonet experimenting with color and light. Layering the washes to give depth to the wood grain. There's a real sense of play in how he's approached the subject, almost like a dance between observation and imagination. It reminds me of Josef Albers’ Homage to the Square paintings. How a simple shape can become a universe of color relationships. This piece speaks to a lineage of artists exploring the intersection of craft and design, each adding their own spin to the conversation. It’s all about seeing what’s possible.