Cupboard 1937

Alfred H. Smith made this drawing, Cupboard, using what seems to be graphite and watercolor, and it really invites you in. The color palette is warm, like a sunlit room, and it gives me the feeling that Smith approached this piece with patience and care. Looking closer, there's a really interesting interplay between the flat washes of color and the more precise, linear details like the wood grain. You can almost feel the texture of the wood! My eyes are drawn to the subtle shading that gives the drawers their volume. I love the way the light seems to catch on the edges. It's those little details that really bring the drawing to life, that transform what could be a clinical study into a scene filled with potential. It reminds me a bit of the early Shaker drawings, with their focus on simplicity and utility, but there's also something deeply personal about it. You know, art isn't just about what you see; it's about how you see it, and what you bring to it.