Mirror c. 1937

Wellington Blewett made this drawing of a mirror, most likely in preparation for a woodworking project. The subdued palette focuses on the brown hues of the wood, beautifully offset by touches of gold. The drawing feels like a record of a process, a transcription of an idea as it takes shape. I love the top of the mirror, how the eagle is both carefully detailed and yet also gestural. Blewett's hand is evident in the quick, confident strokes that define the eagle's form. It’s a really intimate glimpse into the artist’s thinking. This reminds me a little of some of the decorative arts designs of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement. But where Morris tended towards complex, all-over patterns, Blewett keeps things simple, focusing on the interplay of form and function. Ultimately, art, like a mirror, reflects back not just what we see, but how we see it.