Andiron c. 1940

Jacob Lipkin made this drawing of an Andiron, and it's all about the subtle dance of graphite on paper. Look at how he builds up the form with layers of hatching, creating a real sense of volume and weight. The texture is everything here. It’s rough, like you could feel the grit of the metal. Lipkin really hones in on the material qualities, using the pencil to mimic the way light catches on the object's surface. I’m particularly drawn to the top ring; the way he suggests the rounded form with those tiny, deliberate strokes is almost meditative. You know, in a way, this reminds me of some of the drawings of Vija Celmins. There's a similar attention to detail and a dedication to capturing the essence of everyday objects. It is like art becomes a way of really seeing. It invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the mundane.