Cabinet for Storage c. 1938

Charles Squires made this study of a cabinet, with pencil and watercolor on paper. The color palette is really understated, almost monochromatic, but that doesn't stop the piece from being expressive. There’s something so beautiful about Squires' approach. The cabinet is rendered with such care, but also with a kind of looseness that keeps it fresh. I find myself focusing on the details, like the dark orbs beneath, and the way they ground the piece, visually and conceptually. It reminds me a little of Morandi, you know, how he could take these ordinary objects and turn them into something transcendent. Like Morandi, Squires’ has a similar sensibility, transforming utilitarian objects into something beautiful, that feels deeply considered, and full of emotional resonance.