Basket, Table, Door, Window, Mirror, Rug #42 [recto] 1975

Richard Artschwager made this drawing, "Basket, Table, Door, Window, Mirror, Rug #42", with graphite on paper. The composition shows a stack of domestic objects – things we live with every day. But the way they're stacked is peculiar, almost architectural. Artschwager here is interested in the process of representation itself. He's using a humble material, graphite, to depict familiar forms. But he renders them in such a way that they become unfamiliar. Notice the grid in the background, a mechanical aid for accurately capturing the image, but also a cold contrast to the freehand sketch on display. The artist’s mark is clearly visible, and we can trace the development of the drawing. The labor is apparent. Ultimately, Artschwager’s choice of materials and processes challenges our assumptions about art-making. He asks us to consider the work involved in creating even a simple drawing, and the way that art can transform the everyday.