Shaker Sewing Table c. 1938

Alfred H. Smith made this "Shaker Sewing Table" watercolor sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Just looking at it, I am struck by the artist’s precision. I imagine Smith carefully layering each wash, building up the wood’s warm glow, and the cool, quiet light illuminating the whole form. The overall effect is like a memory, or a dream. A sewing table seems so intimate, right? So domestic. I wonder what Smith thought as they painted it. Were they thinking about functionality, history, design, and the beauty of everyday objects? Painters are always looking at other painters—or paintings—and even at design. Smith’s interpretation reminds me of the work of other artists who find beauty in the mundane. It’s a reminder that everything we make, whether it’s a painting or a table, participates in a larger, ongoing conversation.