Sharps Rifle c. 1938

Clyde L. Cheney made this drawing of a rifle, and it's such an interesting choice of subject, don't you think? The gun is depicted with spare, clean lines, and it makes me wonder about the artist’s intentions. Was he a hunter? A gun enthusiast? Or was he interested in the object's form? I keep imagining Cheney at work, carefully studying the details of the rifle. I can almost see him, squinting as he holds it up to the light, trying to capture every little detail. The subtle wood grain, the cool steel of the barrel. There is a precision in the drawing, yet it also feels deeply personal. The gun isn't just an object, but a representation of something more. I can see an artist in conversation with art history.