The Second-Grade Mind 1952

Tom Lovell painted ‘The Second-Grade Mind’ using oil on canvas. The appeal here, and the reason he was such a successful illustrator, lies in his attention to detail. Look at how Lovell has suggested the textures and materials. The wet, reflective quality of the stairs, the shine on the boy's black shoes, the sturdy metal of the railing. These aren't just generic surfaces; they have depth, dimension, and a tactile quality that invites us to reach out and touch them. The boy’s clothes are likely mass produced, and made of synthetic material that resists the rain. The lunchbox, like the clothes, is a product of industrial society, and the railing is likely made in a foundry. Yet all these items are observed with great specificity, ennobling the everyday. Lovell’s technique emphasizes the artistry inherent in the process of observation. It asks us to look closely at our surroundings, and to appreciate the skill and labor that goes into making the material world around us.