Drop-Leaf Table 1936

Henry Granet made this watercolor, Drop-Leaf Table, on paper sometime in the 20th century. The colors are like a warm bath, various shades of brown, like sepia-toned memories. I imagine Granet carefully observing every angle, every curve of this familiar object. What was he thinking as he mixed the exact shade of the wood? Maybe he felt a sense of kinship, a craftsman recognizing another's handiwork. Each stroke, each shadow, feels like a quiet meditation on form and function. It's like Giorgio Morandi's still lifes of bottles, everyday objects imbued with a sense of timelessness. Granet turns a simple table into an object of contemplation. I imagine this piece is similar to others in his wider practice, celebrating the beauty of functional objects and craftmanship. It is a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, if we take the time to really see.