Quirt c. 1939

Flora Guerra made this drawing of a quirt – that’s a type of riding whip - using watercolor and graphite. Looking at the weave of the handle, you can almost feel the texture of the braided leather. The way Guerra renders the details – the subtle shifts in tone, the delicate lines – it’s so precise it almost disappears into the background. But then you notice the little fuzzy bits, the dark hatching around the tassels that’s more gestural. It’s like Guerra is toggling between observation and invention. There's a simplicity to it that reminds me of Agnes Martin. Although Martin worked in large scale, her work also uses a restricted palette and simple forms to create a sense of quiet contemplation. Both artists seem interested in the quiet power of reduction, using it to amplify the viewer’s experience.