Leather Seat c. 1939

Gerald Transpota made this painting of a leather seat, at an unknown date, with what looks like gouache on paper. The palette is grounded, really dug into the browns and bronzes that give this the look of leather. The paint is applied in thin, transparent layers that allow the texture of the paper to show through, creating a tactile surface, but then it is built up in layers to create shadows and highlights that catch the light. The scalloped edges that define the edge of the seat, and also accent it's features, are incredible. They seem precise, but not too slick. I think it’s this tension between accuracy and the handmade that makes this work really sing. It reminds me of Chris Ofili's work, where representation meets abstraction in this dance of form and color. Ultimately, what we're left with is a painting that's not just about what it depicts, but about how we see, and how we feel.