Cast Iron Gate c. 1937

Albert Levone made this drawing of a cast iron gate, probably from life, at some point during his long life. The way he renders it, all in shades of gray, makes me think of a photograph. But of course it’s not: it’s a drawing, built up out of thousands of tiny marks made by his hand. Looking closer, I can see how the marks on the gate become darker, denser, and more textured. He creates the illusion of depth and weight with these marks, and it’s actually quite amazing. It's also so detailed. He really noticed how the thing was put together. This kind of drawing reminds me of the work of Jasper Johns, particularly his drawings of everyday objects. Both artists share an interest in the overlooked details of the world around them, and both use their art to draw our attention to these details. It's cool how art can be about the ordinary, you know? It's not about getting it right but embracing the process, the looking, the messing up.