Chair c. 1937

Here is a watercolor titled 'Chair' by Helen Bronson. I can imagine her building up the image of the chair in thin washes of color. Layering and layering, the careful observation! I can sympathize with Bronson's approach. How do you create solidity, weight, and form with such a watery medium? She must have been thinking about light and how it defines the shape of the chair, capturing its essence through the delicate interplay of shadows. Look at the thin legs. I feel them curving and tapering just so. And the seat woven with such care! I find myself tracing her lines, trying to understand her process. Bronson is in conversation with many artists over time. She is a careful observer, celebrating everyday objects with quiet admiration.