Chest for Clothing or Blankets c. 1937

Majel G. Claflin painted this chest, probably using watercolor, on paper. Look at how the chest is rendered in a single color, a vibrant teal, but the effect isn't flat at all. The variations in tone describe the form, and it's all about process: the way the light hits it, the shadows. It's a translation. The teal feels both modern and somehow ancient, like an artifact pulled from the sea. The artist seems to be interested in the geometry and symmetry of the piece. All of those details, like the circular motifs and the castellated trim, add visual texture to the surface of the chest and make you want to run your hand across it. I’m reminded of the work of Agnes Martin, particularly in the obsessive mark making, but here, instead of lines or grids, it’s about shape and decoration, and the tension between representation and abstraction, which makes it such a compelling piece.