Dueling Pistol c. 1937

Richard Whitaker made this drawing of a ‘Dueling Pistol’ sometime in the 20th century, we don’t know when. The linear quality of the gun's outline emphasizes its shape, a combination of soft, rounded forms and harsh, angular contours. Whitaker meticulously renders the weapon, as if he were studying every curve, corner, and crevice. Whitaker's approach to color is so subtle. Look at the light brown shade of the handle, and the dull silver of the trigger guard, set against the off-white paper, which creates a quiet visual experience. I especially like the way Whitaker included ghostly versions of the same object to suggest a process of revision. Notice how his application of color and shading gives the gun a weightiness, making it seem tangible, even if the depiction is diagrammatic. It reminds me a bit of the work of Phillip Guston, who also liked to take serious subject matter and then make it seem cartoonish. I am drawn to art that embraces simplicity, so it can become a space for imaginative reflection.