Butter Mold 1935 - 1942

Florence Choate made this graphite study of a Butter Mold, at an unknown date. You can see that Choate is interested in representing the textures of the mold and the butter made by it. There's a stark contrast in the tonal palette: the creamy whites of the paper set against the deep grays and blacks that describe the form. It’s almost like the mold is pressing up from the page, asking to be touched. Check out the way she renders the handle of the mold. It's just an outline; no attempt to create the illusion of three-dimensionality. It’s all about process, not about illusionism. It reminds me of those blueprint drawings that Ed Ruscha did. He wasn't trying to fool you with realism. Like him, Choate is exploring the meeting point between observation and abstraction. She seems interested in showing you how it was made, more than trying to make you believe in something. The joy is in the making.