Cradle c. 1936

This is Wellington Blewett’s study of a cradle, and like many technical drawings, it's made with pencil and watercolor washes. I’m always interested in how artists approach these kinds of renderings, because you can tell a lot about their process from their marks. Here, the wash is applied in broad, even strokes, the light and shadow creating a sense of volume and form, like a sculptural object. Looking closer, especially along the edges of the cradle, I see those thin, dark lines of pencil, which anchor and define the shape. It's those small details that add depth and complexity, and allow the work to rise above the purely functional. The drawing reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, though Martin's mark making is much more minimal. Both artists share a sensitivity to line and form, and a sense of quiet contemplation. Art's always a conversation, right? And here, I think, we are invited to consider a world of different voices and approaches, embracing ambiguity and multiple interpretations.