China Cabinet 1936

Ferdinand Cartier made this drawing of a China Cabinet with watercolour on paper. It’s such a tidy little piece! I just love the precision of the drafting, the careful application of the watercolour and how it shows a dedication to craft. You know, sometimes the most interesting thing about an artwork is how it's put together. Here, look closely at how Cartier used these delicate washes of color to build up the form and the light falling across the front of the cabinet. See those little feet at the bottom? The details are so particular. And that warm, reddish-brown hue… it's almost edible! It makes me think of a well-worn piece of furniture passed down through generations. There's something about this piece that reminds me of the work of Charles Demuth, another artist who found beauty in the everyday. It goes to show that art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and images that transcends time.