Armchair c. 1936

Simon Weiss made this drawing of an armchair at some point between 1855 and 1995. I love how the soft watercolour pigment merges with the paper to create a velvety texture that begs to be touched. I imagine Simon hunched over his desk, carefully observing and rendering the curves of the chair with a fine brush. The wood grain shimmers with warmth, and that inviting red seat looks soft, plump and comfortable. The additional sketch floating above the chair gives you more information, almost like a detail or a study. I feel like this is so Simon could try out an alternative idea and see if it worked. All artists have those moments of hesitation, you know? Sometimes I wish viewers could see all the messy mistakes and revisions that happen before a piece is considered "finished." It reminds us that artmaking is a process, not just a product. And that process of constant looking and observing connects artists across time, even if their styles and subjects differ wildly.