Drawer Pull c. 1936

This 'Drawer Pull' by Janet Riza, made with watercolour and graphite, has a real delicacy to it. It's so light and airy, yet there's a precision in how the artist has rendered the details. The colour palette is muted, almost monochromatic, and the surface is smooth. Looking at that central, leaf-like design, I can almost feel the coolness of the metal. Riza’s delicate use of shading gives the object a three-dimensional quality, drawing me in. The marks are so controlled, the washes blended perfectly, creating subtle gradations of tone. It’s this attention to detail that elevates the drawing beyond a mere technical study. You know, looking at the way the light plays across the surface, I can't help but think of Agnes Martin's subtle, ethereal paintings. Though their mediums are different, there's a similar focus on simplicity, repetition, and a quiet, meditative quality. And isn’t that what art is all about, after all, an ongoing conversation across time and space?