Chest of Drawers c. 1936

Editor: This is “Chest of Drawers,” a drawing from around 1936 by Philip Johnson. The geometric wood detailing really stands out. It gives off such a regal, solid, and...well, very brown vibe. What's your take? Curator: Brown is good! Brown is earthy! Brown speaks of age, doesn't it? Imagine those Renaissance craftsmen, lovingly carving away... I picture a dimly lit workshop, filled with the scent of sawdust and varnish. What’s captivating is how Johnson captures this, yet in a precise drawing. Editor: It definitely has that old-world feel. The geometric details are cool too, they almost give it an Art Deco touch. But what do you think the intent was here? A study? A proposal? Curator: Perhaps a bit of both! He was a man with a foot in so many stylistic camps. Think of it as Johnson daydreaming… “What if,” he mused, brush in hand, "I could freeze a moment of bygone craftsmanship in simple lines?". Notice how even the watercolor medium brings a sense of airy transience to something so very solid. What feeling do you get from the piece? Editor: It makes me want to trace the shapes with my fingers, like I could understand its story that way. It also inspires me to imagine living in that era. What really resonates with me is the intersection of history and creativity it embodies. Curator: I wholeheartedly agree. And that’s where the magic lies. In its delicate blend of form, time, imagination.