Interior of the Studio 1937

Mark Tobey made this painting, "Interior of the Studio", with watercolor and gouache over graphite on paper. The effect is a kind of layered vision, like a memory of a room, or maybe like one of those exploded diagrams of an engine. There's a lot going on here, but the redness really grabs you. It’s not a fiery red, more like dried blood or old brick. Tobey uses thin washes, letting the colors bleed and mingle, and there are these delicate graphite lines dancing all over the surface, holding it all together, like the scaffolding of a dream. Look closely and you can see how the light comes in from the windows, but the objects on the table feel like they’re floating in space, defying gravity. The texture is matte and chalky, soaking up the light. It reminds me of other artists who’ve tried to capture the feeling of being inside a creative space, like Philip Guston. This feels like a private world, full of secrets and hidden meanings. It’s a painting that invites you to slow down, get lost, and find your own way through the maze.