Sleepyhollow Armchair 1937

This watercolor of a Sleepyhollow Armchair was made by Dana Bartlett, sometime between 1882 and 1957. I can see him, or her, carefully building the image in thin washes of neutral color. The brushstrokes are delicate, almost tentative, as if Bartlett is gently coaxing the chair into existence on the page. I feel for Bartlett making this painting – the challenges of representing such an ornate object. Did they struggle with the perspective, or the play of light and shadow across its form? Were they trying to capture the essence of the chair, its invitation to rest and relaxation? Maybe it was a beloved object, or perhaps just a commission? Either way, they have beautifully captured the light in the wood. Painting is like that; it’s a conversation between the artist, the subject, and the medium. There is something about the rendering of this functional object that makes me want to paint more! We build on each other’s creativity, inspiring new ways of seeing and thinking.