Bishop Hill: Table 1936

This rendering of a Bishop Hill table, likely made in the mid-20th century by Roberta Elvis, shows us both the front and side views. Look at the pale wash of the wood grain, almost pearlescent, so different from the darker edging and round legs, which feel firmly rooted, almost like sturdy tree trunks. I wonder what Elvis was thinking as she painted the front view, meticulously detailing the knobs on the drawers? It almost feels like she's saying, "Here it is, plain and simple, a useful object." But then, the side view gives us a surprise, doesn't it? It reveals the table’s depth and structure. Elvis seems to be saying that there is more to this table than meets the eye; there’s an interiority, a hidden dimension, just like in painting itself. And in the end, isn’t art like furniture, meant to be both useful and beautiful?