Stair Case c. 1936

Natalie Simon painted this intimate staircase scene with watercolor on paper. Look at how the brown washes seep into the fibers, creating a delicate balance between control and chance. It's a process-oriented dance, right? The kind I love. The painting revels in the details of the wooden banister, with its ornate carvings. Simon layers thin, transparent washes of brown. This builds depth and captures the play of light and shadow. I'm drawn to the vertical balusters, each with a subtle, repeated leaf motif. They remind me of Agnes Martin’s grids, but softened with warmth and wear. This repetition creates a rhythm, a visual echo that pulls you upward. Simon’s staircase feels like a cousin to Gerhard Richter’s blurred portraits, maybe. Both artists find beauty in the quiet imperfections, those moments where the hand of the artist meets the unpredictable nature of the medium.