Cupboard 1938

Edward Jewett made this small watercolor drawing of a cupboard at some point in his long life. I imagine him carefully layering the washes, one over the other, to achieve the perfect wood tone. I wonder if he built this cupboard himself? I can really imagine what it might have been like to make this piece; trying to get the details just right with his brush. It's like he's saying, "I see you, little cupboard," appreciating the simple, humble form. Maybe he was thinking about how light hits the surface, how the grain of the wood curves and twists, and the shadows that are cast on it. It reminds me a little bit of some folk art I have seen. But that’s the thing about art, right? It's all about conversations, both with ourselves and with other artists. I think Edward's small painting captures the spirit of a time gone by, a connection with something real.