Rocker c. 1940

Ursula Lauderdale made this drawing of a rocker sometime in the twentieth century, but with what, I wonder? The effect is soft and warm, almost like a memory. Imagine Lauderdale, contemplating this simple chair. Maybe it was a familiar object from her own home, or one she encountered on her travels. Her marks are precise, yet there's an openness here, a sense of searching for the essence of the form. You can feel the artist feeling for the real thing in her mind as she’s drawing. The tones she's used, these muted browns and grays, create such a tender atmosphere; a reminder of the quiet dignity of everyday objects. Lauderdale makes me think about the work of other artists like Fairfield Porter, who found so much to discover in domestic scenes. In its own way, Lauderdale’s work is also a kind of modern still life, celebrating the beauty of humble things. These are the artworks that make you slow down and really see.