Pembroke Table 1936

John Garay made this drawing of a Pembroke Table sometime between 1855 and 1995 with pen and ink on paper. Look at these consistent lines, and how confidently they render form and surface. The whole composition is an exercise in precision. The drawing meticulously lays out all of the table’s angles, joins, and dimensions. Garay’s attention to detail gives us insight into the tangible qualities of the physical object. Notice the little flourishes at the ends of the legs, those tiny ‘feet’ upon which it stands. I think there is something deeply satisfying in the way it marries careful planning with the beauty of form. This piece reminds me of preparatory drawings by artists like Leonardo da Vinci, who were just as interested in the functional as the aesthetic dimensions of art. Ultimately, it is this kind of rigorous process that allows for new innovations and possibilities.