Turtle Shell Bureau c. 1941

Esther Molina made this drawing of a Turtle Shell Bureau, and the way she's handled the pencil, you can feel her gentle touch. It's like she’s discovering the form as she goes. Look at the delicate shading that gives the shell its volume. It's rendered in tones of sepia, each mark almost a whisper, building up to a surprisingly realistic three-dimensionality. And then, that central oval, like a mirror, reflecting nothing, or everything! There’s a lovely tension between the detailed, almost obsessive rendering of the object and the sheer strangeness of the subject. It reminds me of the drawings of Agnes Martin, which are also about quiet contemplation and the beauty of simple lines. Both artists show us that sometimes, less really is more. And that there's something profoundly moving about the act of paying close attention.