Blanket Chest c. 1936

This drawing shows a blanket chest by Martin Partyka, created sometime between 1855 and 1995. It’s a design drawing, so the approach to mark-making is all about clarity and precision, mapping out a vision. The surface is flat, rendered with clean lines and solid blocks of color. There’s a real graphic quality, a crispness. Look at the floral motifs and the checkered patterns on the drawers – each element is carefully delineated, giving us a sense of the artist’s intent, his attention to detail. The drawing reminds me a bit of the work of Josef Albers, in the way it explores geometric forms and color relationships, but with a folksy, homespun twist. It's a reminder that art is everywhere, not just in museums. It's in the things we make and use every day. It’s in the way we choose to decorate a blanket chest. The beauty is in the details.