Shaker Yoke 1935 - 1942

T. Joyce made this Shaker Yoke using an unknown medium, sometime between 1855 and 1995. Look at the flat, matte colours, so carefully delineated and precise. I feel like this piece is all about an attention to detail, and that appreciation of the labour involved is a huge part of the work. Take the yoke itself, and the way Joyce has painted it to mimic the smooth, pale wood of the original. There is so much care taken in the rendering of a functional, handmade object like this, with the artist capturing the textures of the worn leather straps and the simple joinery. I'm reminded of the still life paintings of Giorgio Morandi, whose work similarly elevates the everyday, asking us to consider beauty and meaning in the mundane. Ultimately, this piece to me is about seeing the world in a grain of sand.