Ladder Back Chair c. 1939

Here’s a Ladder Back Chair from way back when, drawn by Roger Deats. It’s rendered in watercolor pencil and graphite on paper. Imagine Deats’ focus as he studies this object. He’s trying to get it right, trying to faithfully transcribe what he sees. Those pencils must have been so sharp. And there's something about the chair itself, right? I'm just looking at the way the seat is woven. Someone made this chair. Someone sat in it. Someone else drew it. It’s like a quiet conversation across time. The chair is such a simple, functional thing, but it also has a kind of beauty. The drawing is pretty straightforward. It’s not trying to be anything it isn’t. There’s an honesty to that which is kind of beautiful, too. It’s just a chair, but it also isn’t. You know?