Silver Fork c. 1936

Herbert Russin made this drawing of a silver fork with graphite on paper, and you can see the way he’s built up tone with layered marks. It's like he’s feeling his way around the object with his pencil. Look at the handle. See how the graphite has been rubbed into the paper to create a smooth, almost reflective surface? But then there are these little vertical lines on top, pulling it back into being a drawing. The texture is palpable. I can almost feel the coolness of the metal. It's interesting how Russin takes this everyday object and gives it so much attention. The humble fork, elevated to a subject worthy of careful study. It reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, where he painted the same bottles over and over, each time finding something new to explore. Art is not always about grand gestures, it’s often about the subtle nuances of seeing.