Branding Iron c. 1942

Elizabeth Johnson made this intriguing drawing of a Branding Iron, using what looks like watercolor on paper. I can imagine Johnson carefully observing the object, trying to capture every little detail. A branding iron is not the kind of thing you expect to see represented as art, but I can relate to the impulse. There's something fascinating about how the thing has come into being through use. The way it has shifted and emerged through trial, error, and intuition. The iron itself appears solid and weighty, yet Johnson renders it with such delicacy. The paint is thin, allowing the white of the paper to peek through, creating a subtle, luminous effect. A light brown wash is all she needed to conjure the weight and texture of metal. The handle extends into space with the ring at the end reminding me of the letter 'o', an acknowledgement of the work it does. Artists are always in conversation, aren't they? Passing notes, inspiring each other across time. Painting is an embodied expression, embracing ambiguity, and allowing for multiple readings.