Child's Rocking Horse c. 1939

Ernest A. Towers Jr. made this delicate drawing of a Child’s Rocking Horse, probably in the late twentieth century, using watercolor and graphite on paper. It's interesting to see how Towers let the white of the paper breathe through the drawing, creating a sense of lightness and transparency. I love the way he’s captured the textures, from the smooth, polished wood of the horse to the worn leather of the saddle. There’s something really charming about the level of detail, like the little painted details on the horse’s chest and the careful rendering of the bridle. Look how the shadows define the form, giving it volume and presence. This piece reminds me a little bit of the work of Fairfield Porter, in its quiet intimacy and focus on everyday subject matter. Both artists seem to find beauty in the mundane, elevating the ordinary through careful observation and skilled technique. Just as Porter embraced a sense of lived experience in his work, Towers' painting seems to evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time.