Chair 1935 - 1942

Editor: So, this is Rolland Livingstone's "Chair," done sometime between 1935 and 1942. It's a drawing in watercolor, and it’s making me think of my grandma’s house. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, you’ve picked up on something key. There's an inherent intimacy to the object. It's just a chair, right? But Livingstone's treatment gives it this quiet dignity. The meticulous rendering in watercolor speaks to a close observation, an almost loving attention to detail. Do you notice how the light catches on the wood? Editor: Yeah, it almost glows. It’s more than just a functional object, definitely. Curator: Exactly! It becomes almost a portrait. And think about the era – the Depression, just before the war. Perhaps the humble chair becomes a symbol of domestic stability, of finding beauty in simplicity. Or maybe it’s Livingstone playing with representation itself – challenging what we consider a worthy subject for art. Does it trigger other ideas, other images? Editor: Maybe...like a Hopper painting. Something about the quietness, the solitude, that simple shape that speaks to broader themes... It makes me look at furniture in a completely new way, imagining who sat on the chair. Curator: Yes, wonderful. So, next time you're sketching or even just doodling, maybe find the extraordinary in the everyday object. Livingstone definitely encourages me to slow down and contemplate my surroundings. Editor: Definitely some food for thought. Thanks!