Lowboy c. 1939

Arthur Johnson made this Lowboy sometime in the twentieth century out of watercolor and graphite on paper. The materials are simple, but the subject is not. "Lowboy" is a traditional term for a small table, often used as a dressing table. What strikes me most about this image is how it captures the handwork involved in furniture making. Look at the curves of the legs, and how they're echoed in the shaped apron beneath the drawers. See also the joinery of the drawer fronts and the subtle texture of the wood grain. Johnson has clearly taken time to observe the many processes involved in the making of the original object, and to render them with care. This is all the more impressive when you consider that the final image is a drawing. Johnson is not only representing the design of the Lowboy, but also celebrating the labor and skill that went into its creation.