Carver Armchair 1936

This rendering of a ‘Carver Armchair’ was made by Anne Ger, who lived a long life between 1855 and 1995. I wonder if she sat in one of these. The chair sits squarely on the page, described with precision and care. I can only imagine her careful attention to detail, trying to capture just the right shade of brown, the perfect angle of the seat. I wonder if she enjoyed the challenge of depicting its three-dimensionality on a two-dimensional surface. When I look at this small painting, I think about how humble subjects like this chair can be incredibly profound when we take the time to really see them. It reminds me that artists are always looking, always noticing, always finding beauty in the everyday. And they help us do the same.