Steel Buckle c. 1937

Thomas Holloway's pencil drawing, Steel Buckle, feels like a delicate dance between precision and whimsy. Imagine Holloway at his drawing board, his brow furrowed in concentration as he meticulously renders each tiny circle of the buckle's design. You know, I love how these shapes coalesce into something both functional and beautiful. The repetition of forms reminds me a little of Sol LeWitt, but with a touch of 18th-century elegance. Did Holloway labor over every curve, or did he allow himself the freedom of intuition? I wonder if he knew how much his little buckle would beguile us centuries later. There’s something so intimate about seeing the artist’s hand at work, the way the graphite captures the light and shadow. It’s like a whisper from the past, inviting us to pause and consider the beauty in the everyday. The drawing is a reminder that even the most utilitarian objects can be elevated to art through the artist's vision and skill.