Table c. 1937

Louis Annino made "Table," a drawing, sometime in the 20th century. Isn't it funny how a simple object like a table can become so interesting when it's rendered in art? The careful cross-hatching and blended washes describe not just the object but the light falling across the surface, creating a soft, inviting texture. Look at the tabletop: see the way the light glances off the wood, giving it a lustrous sheen? There's such care in the depiction of the form, so focused on the craft, that it reminds me of the drawings of furniture made by the Shakers. They also celebrated simple forms, and the value of functionality and craft. Ultimately, this drawing celebrates the humble, everyday objects that surround us, inviting us to see beauty in the mundane.