Sofa Table c. 1939

Francis Borelli painted this 'Sofa Table' with watercolor and graphite on paper. Just imagine him rendering the fall of light on each plane and surface of the wooden furniture. I love the brown palette and the attention to detail – you can almost feel the wood grain under your fingertips, especially on the tabletop! I can imagine Borelli carefully considering each line, thinking about the play of shadow and light, mimicking the texture of the wood. Painters are magpies, constantly absorbing information about the world around them, and Borelli is no exception. The artist's practice shows a reverence for craft, highlighting how everyday objects like a simple table can be elevated through careful observation and skillful rendering. We see not just the object but Borelli’s meditation on form, function, and the quiet beauty of domestic life. It makes you wonder about the exchange of ideas across time and how artists inspire one another’s creativity.