Child's High Chair c. 1937

Frederick Jackson made this watercolour painting of a child's high chair, and, you know, it makes you wonder what Jackson was thinking about when he chose this subject matter. I see a limited palette of earth tones. Like a minimalist meditation, Jackson has reduced the chair to its barest, most essential form. Each line feels carefully considered, even reverential. The wood grain is rendered with such delicate precision that it almost seems to breathe on the page. The surface has a smooth finish. There is a sense of peace. Maybe Jackson was thinking about the passage of time, the way objects like this high chair bear witness to generations of family life. Or perhaps he was simply drawn to the chair’s quiet beauty, its humble presence in a world of constant change. Whatever his inspiration, Jackson has created a work that invites us to slow down and contemplate the simple things that make up our lives. Like a well-worn chair, this painting offers a space for reflection, a place to rest our thoughts and find solace in the everyday.