Bedstead c. 1936

Irene Malawicz made this drawing of a bedstead, we don’t know exactly when, using graphite and watercolor. It’s a really gentle rendering, mostly pale hues, a soft domestic scene. It's clearly about the process, about making it, not about photographic accuracy or anything like that. Look at the floral patterns on the bedspread and curtains. They're not just decorations; they seem to grow organically, like a garden. The colors are muted, but the details are so precise, as if each flower tells its own tiny story. The thinness of the watercolor lets light pass through. It gives the whole image an airy quality, a dreamlike feel. The graphite lines underneath add a quiet structure, like bones beneath the skin. I’m thinking about the way Agnes Martin built up tone in her grid paintings, a similar kind of care. This bedstead isn’t just an object; it's a space filled with potential, with stories waiting to happen. It suggests the warmth and intimacy of home. It’s really lovely!