Armchair c. 1936

Rolland Livingstone’s ‘Armchair’ is an unassuming drawing on paper, but it's also a portal into a world of design. The subtle watercolour washes give the impression of an object caught between dimensions. What was Livingstone thinking when he made this? The chair itself, with its curious heart-shaped back and delicate upholstery, seems to hover between periods – is it a study for a real chair, or a design of the artist's imagination? There is a beautiful and intricate design sensibility at play here, similar to what you see in the work of designers like William Morris, who also found beauty and inspiration in everyday objects. These artists are in conversation across time, their creativity sparking one another. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about grand statements, but also about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.