Handle c. 1938

John Garay made this drawing, Handle, sometime between 1855 and 1995. It’s a simple line drawing of a door handle, but it’s also kind of weird and wonderful. Look at the texture created by the pencil. The tone isn’t quite even, and there are some darker marks that add character to the piece. The artist hasn't tried to hide the making, which is cool! The handle itself has this curvy, almost organic shape, like a strange plant growing on a door. See how the artist has arranged the two leaf shapes, one pointing upwards, and one down, and how they lead the eye? The white space of the paper really makes the object pop. I keep thinking about the idea of a handle, it asks to be touched, which asks to be opened. It reminds me a little of Guston’s simple paintings of everyday objects. There’s a real conversation happening here, an invitation to consider how even the most humble thing can be seen in a new way.