Andiron 1935 - 1942

Jack Staloff’s ‘Andiron’ is rendered with graphite on paper, and it’s all about seeing how form emerges through subtle gradations of tone. Look closely, and you'll notice how the graphite is built up, layer by layer, creating this incredible sense of depth and volume. The surface is smooth, but with a definite texture, a kind of gentle hum under the skin of the object. There's a real physical presence to the andiron, like you could reach out and touch its cool, solid form. It’s that soft blending that gets me thinking about Giorgio Morandi, who spent his life making paintings of humble bottles. Like Morandi, Staloff transforms the mundane into something quietly monumental, inviting us to slow down and really see the beauty in the everyday. Art is an ongoing conversation, a way of looking and thinking that never really ends.