Sewing Table 1938

Charles Goodwin made this watercolour painting of a sewing table, but we don't know exactly when. You can see how he works in layers, with thin washes of colour, letting them build up to create the form, almost like he's constructing the table himself. Look at how Goodwin renders the wood. The browns aren’t just flat; they’re alive with variations, little streaks and daubs that suggest the grain and the way light catches on the surface. And then there’s that fantastic green and red inlay on the tabletop. The choice of colour is almost acidic; and it’s set against the warmth of the wood. It makes you think about the tactile nature of the object. It reminds me a little of some of the paintings of furniture by the Swiss artist, Félix Vallotton. Both Vallotton and Goodwin are interested in domestic spaces and the quiet lives of objects. Painting is always a conversation. There's no one right way to see things.