Armchair 1939

Isadore Goldberg made this drawing of an armchair sometime in the 20th century, we don't know exactly when, but I'd guess he did it in pencil and watercolour. The muted palette gives this piece a quiet feeling. Goldberg's marks are careful and considered, really controlled, which makes me think about the way the chair itself was constructed. The drawing almost has an architectural quality in the way it's put together. Look how the weave of the seat is rendered so precisely. The way the light catches the wood feels very real, and the details in the shading around the joins and edges give it a three-dimensional quality. It's a very literal depiction, which reminds me of the work of folk artists like Joseph Yoakum. There's something about the humble subject matter and the directness of the rendering that I find very appealing. It's like Goldberg is inviting us to appreciate the beauty of everyday objects. It shows us how the simplest things can become art when seen through the eyes of an artist.