Attic Door Latch c. 1936

James Lawson made this technical drawing of an attic door latch, but when it was made, or with what, we don’t know. I’m interested in the way this image, through its technicality, becomes more about form than function. The image is built from precise lines, carefully delineating the latch's components, screws, and handles. The physical qualities of the drawing, like the paper's surface and the ink’s consistency, play a crucial role. This is not just a representation; it’s an object, a testament to the act of drawing. The slight imperfections in the lines—a tiny wobble here, an uneven curve there—reveal the artist's hand and the drawing as a process. The composition is spare, letting each element breathe. Lawson's drawing reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's grids; on the surface, both seem rigid, but they reveal vulnerability the longer you look. What do you think?