Knit Hose 1935 - 1942

E.J. Gilsleider made this drawing of a sock, or knit hose, with graphite and watercolor. Look how the artist builds up soft layers of graphite, pushing the subtle tones to create form and texture. You can almost feel the wool through the paper. It's like the drawing itself is knitting a picture. The colors are so muted, almost like faded memory. See how Gilsleider uses light to define the shape, those delicate shadows suggesting volume? You can almost see the individual stitches. I love how the simple subject matter is elevated through the careful application of the medium. It’s like a quiet conversation between the artist, the material, and the humble sock. This drawing reminds me a little of the still-life paintings of Giorgio Morandi, where simple objects become profound through repetition and subtle variations in tone and composition. Both artists show us how much can be found in the everyday, transforming the ordinary into something truly special.