Block-front Desk c. 1937

Harry Eisman made this drawing of a Block-front Desk, probably in the mid-20th century, with watercolor and graphite on paper. Look at the way he patiently builds up the form, from the ornamental cresting to the elegantly shaped legs. I love this kind of descriptive drawing. Eisman is very economical with his marks, it feels like he's trying to capture the essence of the furniture more than a detailed record of it. The slightly muted palette with these dark reds and browns is a nice contrast to the very bright and shiny hardware. It gives the piece a down to earth feel, like a craftsman's notebook. I'm drawn to the tiny, repetitive details on the drawer fronts, how they imply depth and texture with just a few strokes. This reminds me of some of the technical drawings made during the WPA era, but there's also something of a folk art quality here too, in how he's chosen to represent the wood grain. Art isn't just about what you see, but also how you see it, and how you translate that vision onto paper.