Basket, Table, Door, Window, Mirror, Rug #43 1975

Richard Artschwager made this drawing, Basket, Table, Door, Window, Mirror, Rug #43, with ink on paper. It's all about the process, a jumble of everyday objects rendered in a clean, almost architectural style. What strikes me is the cool detachment. Artschwager isn't trying to trick us with illusionism, but rather exploring how simple lines can suggest three-dimensional forms. The table looks like a table, but it's also just a collection of lines on a page. The flatness of the rug is also an interesting element. It makes me think of Sol LeWitt’s wall drawings, where the idea is more important than the execution. Both artists use a reduced vocabulary to create a complex visual experience. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that art is not about replicating reality, but about creating a new way of seeing.