Pigs c. 1930s

Anne Michalov created this drawing of ‘Pigs’ using graphite on paper. It’s a monochromatic scene of farm life, sketched with a sensitivity and a sense of humor. I love the way she uses a simple, soft material to bring this rustic scene to life. Michalov uses a range of marks and lines to build up the texture of the animals and the foliage around them. I can imagine Michalov sitting in the barnyard, observing and capturing the scene with her pencil, maybe with a smirk on her face. The contrast between the dark shading and the blankness of the paper gives the drawing a real depth and dimension. The marks seem to blend to create a sense of movement and life within the static image. This piece is reminiscent of other realist artists who seek to capture the beauty and simplicity of everyday life. It’s a drawing that invites us to contemplate the world around us and find pleasure in the ordinary.