Spinning Stick c. 1938

Maud Holme made this drawing of a spinning stick with what looks like watercolor or colored pencil. It’s a humble object, carefully observed, and I’m interested in the way that Holme’s attention to detail gives it such presence. Look at the variations of brown, the way the light plays across the surface. You can almost feel the smoothness of the wood and the subtle grain. She really gets the roundness of those bulbous ends, doesn't she? The more I look, the more I see echoes of other artists. There's a bit of Morandi in the quiet contemplation, a touch of Agnes Martin in the understated elegance. It reminds us that art isn't made in a vacuum; it’s a constant dialogue, a weaving together of influences and ideas. And it's a reminder that sometimes the simplest things are the most profound.