Shaker Wood Box c. 1937

Alois E. Ulrich made this drawing of a Shaker wood box sometime in the 20th century, presumably with graphite and maybe some watercolor washes. Look at those lines – so precise, they have the air of architectural plans, yet the rendering, especially in the shading of the wood, is so delicate. The color palette is super restrained; it’s all about the subtle variations in the wood grain. You can almost feel the smoothness of the surface, but you can also see the hand of the artist in every stroke. There is a real attentiveness here, a care given to even the smallest details. And what's interesting is how these regular, almost robotic lines manage to convey so much warmth and character. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin’s grids – simple, but also very profound. And like her work, there’s a quiet confidence in Ulrich’s drawing, an acceptance of ambiguity, that makes it so compelling.