Chest 1935 - 1942

This Chest was made by Robert W.R. Taylor, who lived a long life, from 1855 to 1995. Looking at this, you can see that the approach to the mark making is very illustrative, like someone who is figuring out how to draw as they go. What I really like is the way the texture comes into play – the surface isn't smooth, and the colors are really vibrant. There is a gorgeous interplay of red, green, and blue. It feels like Taylor wasn't trying to hide the process at all, but was embracing the physicality of the medium to shape our emotional experience of the piece. I keep coming back to the figure on the right of the chest. He seems to be standing outside the story, a modern man looking in. Thinking about other artists, someone like Bill Traylor comes to mind, another artist with a strong illustrative style, and a narrative leaning. What's so interesting about art is how these conversations keep happening, across time and through different forms.