Trivet c. 1942

Violet Hartenstein made this drawing of a trivet, a humble household object, sometime in the 20th century. I love the muted palette, the browns and greys, and the meticulous way she's rendered the metalwork. I'm imagining her in a quiet room, carefully observing the play of light on the trivet’s surface. I wonder what drew her to this object? Was it the simple geometry, the star-like design, or the way the light filters through the metal? Perhaps she saw something beautiful in its everyday functionality. It reminds me that so many artists find inspiration in unexpected places, seeing potential for art in the mundane. I’m thinking about the way that a drawing like this is its own kind of alchemy, turning base materials into something precious. In my own work, I think a lot about how an artist can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary, imbuing it with meaning and emotion, just like Hartenstein has done here.