Gate Leg Table c. 1940

Frank Wenger made this drawing of a gate leg table, and it feels like a loving record. The warm browns and careful lines capture not just the shape but the feeling of wood, that sturdy yet yielding material. You can almost feel the grain. Imagine Wenger, bent over his paper, patiently building up the image. It is not photorealism that he's after, it is about something more heartfelt, about the life of objects. There's a gentle, humble quality here. It reminds me of other artists who find beauty in the everyday, who see the profound in the simple. It speaks to a way of seeing that values craftsmanship and quiet observation. It's like Wenger is having a conversation with this table, understanding its structure, appreciating its purpose. And in turn, he invites us to join the conversation, to look closer, to see the world with a little more care.