Banister Back Side Chair 1938

Editor: So, here we have Michael Riccitelli's 1938 pencil and watercolor drawing of a "Banister Back Side Chair." I’m struck by how the artist focused so intensely on capturing the chair’s form. What details jump out at you when you look at it? Curator: The piece reveals a delicate balance of geometric and organic forms. The verticality of the banisters contrasts with the woven seat, creating a textural tension. The artist meticulously renders the wood grain, hinting at the inherent qualities of the material. Notice also the subtle variations in line weight, lending depth and volume to the chair's structure. How do these elements speak to you in terms of formal arrangement? Editor: I see the contrast, definitely, and I appreciate how detailed it is. What do you think the different shapes convey? Curator: The repeated circular motifs, especially on the chair legs, against the strict vertical lines might suggest a subtle interplay between stability and aspiration. This interplay can also be observed in the use of light and shadow which articulate form. The interplay allows us to engage with the chair as something other than pure utility. Consider its potential for structural and metaphorical analysis. Do you think there’s an element of design or decoration, or do you feel something else is emerging here? Editor: Now that you mention it, I do get a sense of aspiration. It's like the chair is reaching upwards, despite being a solid, grounded object. Curator: Precisely. By isolating the chair, Riccitelli transforms a common object into an exercise in pure form, a study in contrasts and balances. And, importantly, the artistic rendition encourages closer examination. Editor: It's fascinating how focusing on form can reveal so much about an everyday object. Thanks for pointing all of that out. Curator: It's been a pleasure; hopefully, our analysis has enhanced your perception of this common, yet newly complex, chair.