Side Chair c. 1937

Henry Granet made this drawing of a side chair, but the date is unknown and the medium is simple. It's a technical drawing. But beyond its functional purpose, I can't help but think about what kind of experience it might have been for him. Did he use a ruler, compass, and other drafting tools to ensure accuracy, or did he freehand? There are four elevations; the front view is on the left, next to it is a side view, then an aerial of the seat, and finally a view of the legs only. They appear as distinct elements, yet are part of the same whole. I imagine his lines, so precise and controlled, as an act of translation, transforming the three-dimensional object into a two-dimensional representation. It makes me think about my own practice. I like that an artist can re-present another artist, even if they do not paint. Artists are in ongoing conversation and exchange ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. It's a process of reinvention and discovery.