Colonial Rocker c. 1936

Frank Nelson's Colonial Rocker is rendered in watercolor, a medium often associated with preparatory sketches rather than final artworks. The artist has taken a common, vernacular object as his subject – a plain wooden rocking chair, something that might be found on the porch of a modest home. But here it is, presented for our consideration. Look closely, and you'll see the care with which Nelson has described the wood grain and the subtle variations in color. Watercolor allows for an incredible level of detail, but it also requires a certain lightness of touch. The artist cannot labor over the image too much, or the effect will be lost. In this sense, the process mirrors the construction of the chair itself. The maker would have needed to work efficiently, using simple tools and a practiced hand. The final product would be humble but sturdy. In elevating this ordinary object to the status of art, Nelson asks us to consider the value of everyday things, and the labor that goes into making them. It blurs the line between design, craft, and fine art, inviting us to appreciate the beauty and skill in the mundane.