Silver Fork (Rogers Silverware) c. 1936

Ludmilla Calderon, who lived a long life between 1855 and 1995, made this drawing of a silver fork, probably using graphite or a similar medium. The approach is so precise, almost technical, but there is something so affecting about it as well. Look at the shading along the handle, how she captures the subtle curve of the metal, giving it a real sense of weight and form. You can almost feel the cool, smooth surface. And then there's that extra little squiggle of a tine, floating off to the side, as if she were just playing around, exploring the essence of 'forkness.' It's like she's saying, "Yes, this is a fork, but it's also about line, form, light, and shadow." It reminds me of Vija Celmins’s meticulous drawings of everyday objects – the way she elevates the mundane to something profound through sheer observation and care. It makes you think about how artists can find beauty and meaning in the simplest of things.