Iron Holder c. 1938

Regina Henderer made this Iron Holder painting, date unknown, with what looks like watercolor on paper. It’s rendered so tenderly, almost like a portrait of a humble tool. The colors are muted, mostly browns and grays, which gives it a quiet, contemplative feel. I love the way the artist captured the texture of the metal. You can almost feel the weight of it. There's a particular spot where the metal curves, and the light catches it just so, it reminds me that art is about seeing, really seeing, the world around us. It is about observation. It feels related to the work of Charles Sheeler, who found beauty in industrial subjects. But Henderer brings a different sensibility, more intimate. It makes you wonder about the stories objects can tell.