Bed c. 1936

Jack Bochner made this drawing of a bed from the Bliss House, Springfield, Mass, sometime in the 20th century with ink and graphite on paper. It’s a technical drawing, all very precise lines and measurements. But what’s so interesting is how Bochner transforms cold, hard data into something tender and inviting. I mean, look at the rendering of the mattress, it has a soft, pillowy quality. The graphite shading almost makes you want to reach out and touch it, sink into it. The red lines indicating the rope springs give a hint of the bed’s inner workings. You can imagine the tension and support those ropes would provide. It reminds us that even the most functional objects have a hidden beauty. It's a bit like Agnes Martin's grids, something that's both rational and deeply felt.