Original Outside Door to Sacristy c. 1936

Geoffrey Holt made this door using pencil and watercolor wash on paper. I can imagine him, bent over his work, carefully rendering each panel and nail head. There's a real love for the subject here; the texture of the old wood is palpable. It's almost like a portrait, right? I feel like Holt wants us to see not just the door, but the history embedded in its surfaces. The careful measurements and cross-section view give it the feel of a technical drawing, but the soft, muted colors add a layer of warmth and personality. It reminds me of the way painters like Fairfield Porter would find beauty in everyday scenes, elevating the mundane to something special. It’s like he’s saying, "Look closely, there's beauty everywhere, even in the most ordinary things." These drawings invite us to appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of simple designs and remind us that artists see the world with special eyes.