Scale 1939

Edward Unger made this drawing of a Scale in 1939. It's rendered in watercolor, with these delicate washes, almost like a memory fading onto the page. Look at how Unger uses the watercolour to describe the metal – there are these pools of grey-brown that suggest the weight and texture of the object. The interior of the scale itself is fascinating. A crescent of tan marked with numbers and a fine needle, so precise, it's almost scientific. There's a stillness, but you can almost feel the movement of the hook as it weighs the goods. It reminds me of some of the paintings of Giorgio Morandi, these quiet, unassuming objects, elevated through careful observation. It's a good reminder that art can be about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.