Brass Andirons c. 1938

Edward L. Loper made this drawing of brass andirons, but when is anyone's guess. I'm struck by the way it combines a real interest in how things are constructed with a playful sense of abstraction. It's like Loper is saying, "Here's the solid, functional object," but then he renders it with such delicate lines and subtle shading that it almost floats off the page. The color is kept to muted, metallic gold tones, allowing the structure and geometry to come forward. Look closely at the top finial, the way it spirals up like a soft-serve ice cream cone. This area, with its smooth curves, is a real contrast to the strict, repetitive lines of the fluted column below. This sort of visual rhyming is so interesting to me, the way a small element can transform the entire piece. It reminds me a little of some of Philip Guston's later works – that same blend of careful attention and slightly off-kilter humor. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that art doesn't have to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest voices have the most to say.