Chest of Drawers c. 1939

Charles Henning, born in 1855, made this "Chest of Drawers," and I am fascinated by the world it opens. It looks like casein or gouache on paper, and I can imagine him at his desk, carefully drawing out the scenes before adding the watercolour. Henning has created tiny figures, animals, and plants in a landscape all over the surface. The dark brown background is like a stage set, with the story unfolding across each draw. This piece reminds me a little of the work of Forrest Bess, who believed painting could be a form of communication with the cosmos. Was Henning thinking about creating a new world, a personal mythology, or just keeping himself occupied? Whatever it was, the act of painting becomes a kind of portal, and as an artist, I am always drawn to works with such an intimate, almost obsessive quality. It's like he's inviting us into his inner world, offering a glimpse of his own unique vision.