Pier Table c. 1936

This is a technical drawing of a Pier Table by John Dieterich. It’s all lines, a study in black and white, like a plan unfolding. Look at the way the lines vary – some are crisp and precise, defining the table's edges, while others curve and flow, giving life to the ornate legs. It’s a contrast that makes you think about how we build things, how we move from idea to form. The texture is all in the mind’s eye, created with the suggestion of detail. I think about the real thing and how it would feel to run your fingers along the carved details. The legs have such a beautiful swelling quality, giving the piece a sense of groundedness and movement. There’s something very satisfying about the way the artist has used these measurements to create a sense of depth and dimension. It’s a reminder that art is about observation, about seeing the world in new ways. In its precision and care, it reminds me a little of the diagrams of Leonardo da Vinci. It gives the object a sense of timelessness, of being part of an ongoing conversation.