Brooch c. 1936

William P. Shearwood made this drawing titled "Brooch" using graphite and watercolor. Notice the formal arrangement: the top brooch is like an ornate infinity symbol, a looping figure eight with what appear to be luminous gems at each end. Shearwood's use of line in these designs isn't just descriptive; it's constructive. He employs thin, precise lines to outline the brooches, while thicker, more gestural strokes give depth and texture to the gold filigree. This interplay between precision and expressiveness activates the surface, inviting you to consider the structure and the ornament, not just what is depicted, but how. Consider the composition as a play between the object and its representation, between the brooches themselves and their rendering on paper. Each design is carefully boxed in its own rectangular space, creating a sense of order and control, yet the subtle irregularities in the watercolor wash hint at the artist's hand, reminding us of the subjective act of seeing and representing. Shearwood’s brooches symbolize not merely wealth, but the complex relationship between form, function, and representation itself.