Iron Stand c. 1938

Roy Weber made this drawing of an Iron Stand sometime in his long life, using graphite on paper. It's a study in seeing and describing, a kind of translation. Weber's mark-making here is so tender. He's using graphite, a soft material, to evoke the hard, unyielding nature of iron. Look at the way the graphite is layered, almost vibrating, to capture the texture and form of the stand. The lines aren't just outlines; they're filled with subtle gradations that give the object weight and depth. See how the light seems to catch on the edges, how he models the curves and flourishes. The negative space is just as crucial. The artist is thinking about the whole field, and it’s all activated. This piece reminds me of the drawings of Utamaro, that same delicate precision, and the love for the object. It’s a quiet conversation across time, this passing of ideas.