Shoes 1935 - 1942

Nancy Crimi made this drawing of "Shoes" with what looks like colored pencil on paper, though the date of execution is unknown. The soft, almost dusty application of the pencils gives these elegant slippers a kind of quiet, understated presence. Look how Crimi uses delicate shading to suggest the form and texture of the shoes. The grey, modulated with hints of blue and brown, creates a subtle depth, while the touches of gold in the buckles and bright red on the heels, add just the right amount of visual interest. The marks feel tentative, searching, building up a sense of volume and presence without ever becoming too defined. These are not just shoes; they are an exercise in seeing and rendering, echoing the work of Giorgio Morandi, who also used everyday objects to explore the poetics of the ordinary. Both artists remind us that art is not just about grand gestures, but about the patient accumulation of small observations.