Rocking Chair 1941

Edward Bashaw made this drawing of a rocking chair, we don't know when, with an economy of line and tone that is quite charming. It reminds me that artmaking is a process of reduction, learning how to say the most with the least. The texture of the wood is delicately implied with subtle variations in the brown ink wash, while the woven seat provides a contrasting field of rougher marks. It's interesting to note how Bashaw doesn't attempt to conceal the process of making. Each line and tone is visible, contributing to a feeling of transparency, as if the image were made in one sitting. My eye is drawn to the smooth, rounded rockers at the base, rendered with a slightly darker tone that suggests the chair is firmly grounded, despite its rocking motion. This piece reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's minimalist drawings, where simple forms and subtle variations create a meditative and contemplative space. Like Martin, Bashaw embraces ambiguity, inviting us to find our own meaning in the gentle rocking of this humble chair.