Shaker Sewing Table c. 1938

Alfred H. Smith made this Shaker Sewing Table, probably in the late twentieth century, with pencil, watercolor, and graphite on paper. Look at the muted palette of browns and tans, carefully applied in thin layers. It's like Smith is feeling his way through the process of image-making, attending to each hue and shadow with care. I love how the subtle textures of the paper create an almost palpable sense of depth, how the light seems to catch on the surface, giving it a gentle glow. Notice the meticulous rendering of the wood grain on the tabletop, which hints at the history of the material itself, the slow growth of the tree, the careful labor of the craftsman. It’s like Smith is trying to capture not just the appearance of the table, but also its essence, its spirit. There is something about this image that makes me think of the work of Agnes Martin, another artist who found beauty in simplicity and repetition. Just like Smith, Martin was interested in the process of artmaking, and in the way that even the smallest mark can hold a universe of meaning.