Hasps 1935 - 1942

Broda made this drawing of "Hasps" at some unknown date with what looks like watercolor on paper. The palette is muted, almost monochromatic, which draws my attention to the subtle shifts in tone. I love how the grey-blue wash captures the feel of aged metal. It's a simple subject, but the way it's rendered gives it a quiet dignity. Look at the way Broda has rendered the texture, that slight rusting, with such delicate brushwork. The light catches the edges of the hasps, giving them a dimensionality that belies the flatness of the page. You can almost feel the weight of the metal, the coolness of its surface. To me this is about more than just an everyday object. This piece reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi's still-life paintings of bottles and jars. Both artists share an interest in elevating mundane subjects through careful observation and rendering. And, in doing so, they invite us to find beauty in the overlooked corners of our world.