Andiron c. 1942

This watercolour titled Andiron was made by Isidore Danziger, though we don't know exactly when. The artist is interested in the process of looking, here. See how he works with thin, watery layers, letting the colours pool and mingle on the page. The andiron's form emerges, built up from countless little marks, each one registering a slight shift in tone. Look at the way the light catches the figure’s hat. Danziger builds the form using the translucence of watercolour in thin washes, allowing the light to come from the paper, a quality that adds to the feeling of age and authenticity. And what about that shadow cast by the andiron's leg? It's so subtle, yet it grounds the figure, giving it a sense of volume and weight. Danziger's delicate touch reminds me of other watercolorists like John Marin, who sought to capture the fleeting qualities of light and atmosphere. This artwork invites us to slow down and really *see* the world around us, with all its subtle shifts and nuances. Isn’t that beautiful?