Tongs c. 1941

Pearl Davis made this drawing of metal tongs, at an undetermined date, with graphite and colored pencil on paper. Look at the delicate hatching work that gives the tongs their metallic sheen. What I see is a real study in light and shadow and the way the object sits on the page. I can almost feel the coolness of the metal. I imagine Pearl, deeply focused, trying to capture the essence of this humble tool. What was she thinking as she rendered each line, each curve? Was it just about observation? The way the tongs cross each other reminds me of an X – maybe a kiss or an unknown letter? It’s as if these tongs are inviting us into a secret world of hidden meanings, where everyday objects become profound symbols. It makes you consider how we’re all in this endless conversation with each other, and how each of us is inspiring the next.