Chest c. 1936

Leon Witt made this small watercolour and graphite study of a chest sometime in the past. I love how he renders the surface – it's almost as if the object is alive! I’m looking at the overall brownness and wondering how the light hits it, how the shadows and highlights shape its form. You can see how Witt captures the carved details, each stroke echoing the hand of the carpenter who originally made the chest. Imagine the hours spent, the careful chiseling, the patience required to bring forth these intricate patterns. It reminds me of folk art, where the process is as important as the finished piece. Witt saw something special in this old chest, a kind of beauty that comes from time and craft. It's like he's talking to us across time, sharing his vision, and inviting us to appreciate the simple beauty of everyday objects. And that's the best conversation an artist can have, right?