Highboy c. 1936

This watercolor and graphite drawing by Kurt Melzer depicts a highboy, with every detail carefully drafted. I can imagine Melzer at his desk, poring over the original object, trying to get every angle and measurement just right. It must have been a labor of love. Look at how the light falls across the wood grain, the shadows that define the carvings, and how each drawer has been carefully rendered, complete with delicate metal pulls. It’s not just a representation; it's an act of translation. I’m curious about the little details: the hinges, the casters, and the plan. They feel like little secrets revealed. It makes me wonder what Melzer thought about when he was making this. What did this highboy mean to him? Was it simply an object to be documented, or was it something more? Artists are always in conversation with each other, across time and space. This drawing, to me, is about looking closely, paying attention, and finding beauty in the everyday.