Spreader for Schooner Rigging 1939

Erwin Stenzel made this drawing of a 'Spreader for Schooner Rigging,' and look at the way he handled the material. It’s almost like a love letter to process itself. See how the grain of the wood is echoed in the rendering of the rope? The earthy browns and tans evoke the salty, weathered life of a schooner, bringing a sense of the sea's embrace. Take a look at the middle where the rope is wound tightly around the wood, you can almost feel the tension and labor involved in securing a ship’s rigging. It reminds me of the precision and care of technical drawings, yet there's an undeniable warmth and intimacy here. You know, it makes me think of Agnes Martin, not in style, but in the dedication to simple forms and subtle variations. There’s beauty in the mundane, and Stenzel helps us see it. Art is everywhere.