Gate-legged Dining Table c. 1939

This is a watercolor of a Gate-legged Dining Table, by Amos C. Brinton. It's hard to say exactly when it was made, but it’s the kind of painting that makes you think about the process of making things. The thing that hits me is the texture he creates with the watercolor. He's really working the surface, layering the washes to build up this sense of depth and wear on the wood. Look at the top surface of the table, you can almost feel the grain and the little imperfections. Then, around the legs, the way he suggests the joints and the joinery, it's not just about depicting the object, it's about understanding how it's put together. I’m reminded of Charles Demuth, another watercolorist who found beauty in the everyday. Both artists teach us that anything can be a subject, it’s all in the way you see it. Ultimately, this image is about looking closely and appreciating the skill, labor and attention that goes into making something by hand.