Butter Mold 1935 - 1942

Florence Choate made this drawing of a butter mold sometime in the 20th century. The lead pencil on paper beautifully captures the round form and pattern of the mold; I can almost feel the cool metal and smell the creamy butter. I wonder what Choate was thinking when she made this artwork. Perhaps she was interested in the beauty of everyday objects, or maybe she was drawn to the intricate designs of the mold itself. She's carefully recorded the details of the mold, from the rippled, snaking form to the decorative pattern around the edge. I'm intrigued by the additional technical drawing of the handle, which seems to flatten the object back into a diagram. This drawing reminds me of the work of other artists who have found inspiration in the mundane, like the Pop artists who elevated soup cans and comic strips to high art. Choate's drawing invites us to slow down and appreciate the simple elegance of a tool used to make something delicious. Maybe this was a drawing for herself, or perhaps she imagined it would inspire someone else.