Chair c. 1939

Ralph Morton made this drawing of a chair sometime in the 20th Century, but it feels older, doesn't it? He renders the form carefully, but the mark making is loose, open, and process oriented. There's something very touchable about this image; you can almost feel the texture of the woven seat and the smooth, turned wood of the frame. The colors are muted and earthy, creating a calm, almost somber mood. Look at the way Morton suggests the roundness of the chair's legs with subtle gradations of tone. It's not quite photorealistic, but it captures the essence of the object. It reminds me a little of the work of Fairfield Porter, who also found beauty in the everyday. Ultimately, art is about finding new ways to see the world, and Morton's chair invites us to slow down and appreciate the simple things.