Chair-Round-A-Bout 1937

This is J. Howard Iams’s drawing of a chair, made with graphite on paper. What I love about it is how honest it is, not trying to be anything other than a simple depiction of a familiar object. The artist uses these delicate, almost hesitant marks to build up the form. Look at the way the graphite is applied, soft and smudgy in some areas, more precise in others, never quite defining a hard edge, just suggesting the roundness of the chair’s wooden frame. The woven seat is a marvel, each strand carefully rendered, creating a textured surface that invites touch. There’s a real physicality to it, and the subdued palette really enhances the quiet mood. It reminds me of some of Agnes Martin’s drawings, with their understated beauty and meditative quality. Both artists seem to find profundity in simplicity. Ultimately, this piece is a great reminder that art can be about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.