Wardrobe c. 1939

Lee Brown rendered this "Wardrobe" with watercolor and graphite, freezing a moment of observation. I can imagine Lee, squinting, trying to capture the woodgrain, the way the light glances off those edges, and the heft of the thing itself. You know, paintings aren't just copies. It’s like Lee is feeling for the soul of this wardrobe. It’s like she’s whispering, “I see you. I get you.” There’s such tenderness in how she’s described the shape of the door panels, and those sweet little drawers at the bottom, all in hushed browns and tans. Brown was such an important colour for painters; think of Philip Guston or Chaim Soutine! It's not just about what the wardrobe looks like, but what it *is*. It's about time, memory, and maybe even a bit of longing.