Gate Leg Table c. 1940

Frank Wenger made this drawing of a 'Gate Leg Table' at an undetermined date with watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper. It feels like Wenger's really trying to figure out the table's structure, how all the bits and pieces connect. You can almost see him puzzling it out, one careful line at a time. The texture is amazing. Wenger uses thin washes of watercolor for the wood grain, but then he adds these sharp, defined pencil lines that give it this wonderful crispness. The color palette is all warm browns and reds, making the table feel inviting. Look at the legs: each one is slightly different, with little variations in the curves and shadows. It's like Wenger's celebrating the handmade quality of the table, not trying to make it perfect. I’m thinking of Agnes Martin here, who also found something quietly profound in simple, everyday objects. Ultimately, it’s that feeling of curiosity, of really looking and trying to understand something, that makes the drawing so captivating.