Lap Desk 1935 - 1942

Edna Rex made this "Lap Desk" drawing with what looks like colored pencils, and the way she layers those reds and browns, it's like she's coaxing the wood grain out of the paper itself. I love how the color isn't just laid on; it's built up, a real process of discovery. And you can almost feel the texture of the wood, smooth and polished on top, rougher on the sides. Then there is that smaller, fainter version of the desk floating behind as though it's a ghost or memory. There's something about the way Rex lets the marks be visible, lets us see the "how" of it, that makes the piece so intimate. It reminds me of Morandi's still lifes, where everyday objects become monumental through careful observation and simple execution. It’s like she is saying, “Look, this is how I see the world; come see it with me.” And who wouldn’t want to?