Shaker Chest of Drawers 1937

Winslow Rich made this watercolour and graphite "Shaker Chest of Drawers," and it's fascinating because it's not just a picture, it's a record of the artist looking, thinking, and then making. The surface is mostly smooth, but you can see the way the graphite gives a texture and structure underneath the watercolour. Look at the gentle shading on the left of the top surface and drawers, and how this gives the wood a real sense of depth and weight. The colour is understated, the brown-red wood, but it’s enough to suggest warmth and functionality. I'm reminded of Agnes Martin's minimalist grids, but with a twist – it’s as if the artist is asking us to consider the act of careful observation, the delicate balance between seeing and knowing. Art isn't just about showing; it's about how we see, and what we choose to make visible.