Hitchcock Rocker 1935 - 1942

David S. De Vault made this watercolor of a 'Hitchcock Rocker' sometime in the 1930's or 40's. The muted palette and delicate rendering give it a kind of antique feeling, even though it's not that old. It's interesting to me how the washes of color allow the whiteness of the paper to come through in places; it's like the chair is dissolving into the background. The evenness of tone flattens the object, emphasizing the linear pattern of the chair's design. Look how the parallel curves of the rockers mirror the curves of the chair arms. And then there's the stenciled floral pattern on the crest rail, contrasting with the woven texture of the seat. It reminds me a little of Charles Demuth's paintings of chairs, or maybe even some of the Shaker furniture drawings. It shows us that art isn't just about representation, it's about seeing the world in a new way. It's an ongoing conversation.