Drop Leaf Table c. 1941

Dorothea Farrington made this drawing of a drop leaf table, and you can see her interest in the wood grain which she renders with careful and repetitive marks. The color palette is limited, focusing on the warm browns and reds of the wood, which creates a sense of depth and richness. The texture of the paper is smooth, allowing the watercolor to blend seamlessly, creating a soft, almost dreamlike quality, kind of like a memory of a table, rather than the table itself. The grain of the wood on the table top is particularly compelling. The artist has meticulously drawn the wood grain, as if she is trying to get to know the table, and really understand it. Farrington's approach reminds me of Agnes Martin, in the way that she makes repetitive marks on a grid, but it also brings to mind the paintings of Giorgio Morandi, where he paints the same bottles over and over again, trying to understand the world around him. Ultimately, this piece reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time.