Rocking Chair 1941

This watercolor painting of a rocking chair was made by Edward Bashaw. It's so simple, right? But have you ever tried to paint something like this? I have. You think you can dash it off, but you have to really look. I'm imagining Bashaw, studying the light on the rungs and rockers, trying to capture the way the woven seat catches the light. There's a real tenderness here. He's not just painting a chair; he's painting the feeling of a chair, the promise of quiet moments and gentle motion. The delicate lines and muted tones evoke a sense of nostalgia. You know, it reminds me a little bit of Fairfield Porter, that everydayness made special through paint. Bashaw is part of that ongoing conversation between artists, isn't he? Finding beauty in the mundane. And isn't that what we're all trying to do, in our own way?