Tailor's Bench c. 1938

Manuel G. Runyan made this drawing of a Tailor's Bench with what looks like watercolor on paper. It's a simple scene, but the color palette is so warm! The surface has a slight texture which adds to the old world feel of the picture. I love how you can almost feel the age of the wood through Runyan’s rendering of the tabletop. The reddish undercoat of the base shows through in places, giving it a layered effect. The careful details really capture the wear and tear of a well-used object, and you can see how the artist considers the use and utility of this bench. This piece reminds me of Fairfield Porter, who also celebrated the beauty of everyday objects in a realist style. Art is like a conversation across time, don't you think? There are no fixed meanings or perfect readings, just a lot of ways of seeing, thinking, and feeling.