Flat Iron Holder c. 1938

This drawing of a Flat Iron Holder was made by Jack Staloff, but we don’t know exactly when. It’s a straightforward rendering but there is something strange, personal even, in the way Staloff used pencil. The lines aren’t precise, but feel their way around the object. You get the sense that Staloff wasn’t just copying what he saw, but feeling the weight and texture of the iron holder in his mind as he drew. Look closely, and you'll see the subtle gradations of tone, the soft shadows that give the object its volume. The lettering around the edge becomes a rhythmic pattern, an almost musical phrase. The drawing reminds me of the work of Vija Celmins, who also finds something profound in the everyday. Like Celmins, Staloff invites us to slow down, to really see the world around us, and to find beauty in the most unexpected places. It’s a quiet, unassuming work, but it speaks volumes about the power of art to transform our perception.