Aspic Mold c. 1938

Philip Johnson created this drawing titled "Aspic Mold." The page is divided into two distinct registers: one of light lines, one of dark. The light rendering of the fish-shaped mold is almost diagrammatic, a blueprint for the more substantial form rendered below. Notice how the lower image, the dark one, uses shadow and tone to give depth and volume to the mold. The texture of the scales and the subtle curves of the fish come alive through the artist's precise use of shading. Johnson captures the essence of the mold's design but also prompts us to consider the relationship between form and representation. Is this drawing merely a depiction of a mold, or does it explore the interplay between utility and aesthetics, between function and art? Consider how Johnson manipulates light and shadow not just to represent an object but to invite a dialogue about the nature of design and representation itself.