Shaker Rocking Chair c. 1937

Editor: This is Alfred H. Smith's watercolor and graphite drawing of a "Shaker Rocking Chair," around 1937. I find its simplicity very striking. What do you make of the artist's approach to form here? Curator: The drawing emphasizes the chair's structural elements. Notice the linearity and repetition—the vertical posts, the horizontal slats—they create a grid-like structure. What about the light? Editor: The light source casts a strong shadow, and enhances the 3D aspect of the artwork. The color is subtle. Curator: Indeed. Smith's attention to shadow defines form, adding depth to an otherwise linear design. The light reinforces a spatial reading. Editor: Does the weave pattern play a role, beyond its texture? Curator: Certainly. The woven seat creates an interesting contrast. Its complex texture offsets the regularity of the wood frame. This provides a contrast between rectilinear and more organic. Editor: I'm learning a lot just by focusing on how Smith handled shape and shadow. Thank you. Curator: It is by deconstructing the relationships that make up form in Alfred H. Smith's work that we can start to see the artistry in everyday life.