Secretary c. 1937

Ernest Towers Jr. drew this “Secretary” sometime in the 20th century with watercolor and graphite. Look at the wood graining, the twirling curlicues on the crest, and the way the mirrors reflect a cool, quiet light. I imagine him, sitting at his drafting table, carefully layering translucent washes of watercolor, coaxing out the wood's natural patterns. What a patient soul he must have been, meticulously rendering all those details with such precision! It’s a little bit trompe l'oeil, the way the flat surface transforms into a vision of depth, of drawers that open, of reflections in mirrored glass. I love how he captures the essence of the secretary, its solid presence and its elegant, decorative elements. He knew this object, inside and out. Artists and designers often borrow ideas from one another, passing down techniques and visual motifs through generations. This drawing reminds me of the way furniture makers translate painted sketches into real-world objects, isn’t that marvelous?