Architectural Ornament 1935 - 1942

Helen Alpiner Blumenstiel made this drawing of architectural ornament, likely with pencil and wash. The muted tones and careful shading give the impression of age, like a forgotten relic. It’s interesting how Blumenstiel captures the three-dimensional form of the ornament. The textures are wonderfully rendered. Look at the details on the bird’s feathers and the rough surface of the wheat. You can almost feel the stone. The cross-hatching and blending of tones give the piece depth, making it jump off the page. What strikes me is the contrast between the solid architectural form and the wildness of the natural elements. It reminds me a little of the work of Agnes Martin, but with more grit and less geometry. Ultimately, it’s the tension between precision and looseness that makes this piece so intriguing. It invites us to see the world in multiple ways, questioning what is fixed and what is fluid.