Highboy c. 1938

Charles Squires made this Highboy with what looks like watercolor or gouache on paper. Squires, born in 1855, lends a sense of care to this representation of a piece of furniture. What strikes me is how the surface of the paper allows the color to exist almost as a stain, each mark left to pool and settle. I find myself looking at the legs, which have a subtle curve to them. Each line is carefully delineated, giving the object a sense of weight and presence. The colour, that light woody brown, is so subtle it almost disappears into the background. This piece reminds me a bit of the Shaker drawings that came before it. There’s the same celebration of simplicity, the same dedication to showing an object for what it is. It reminds us that art isn't just about grand statements; it’s also about the quiet observation of everyday things. Artmaking is a process of seeing and responding, a conversation between the artist and the world around them.