Foot Scraper c. 1937

Filippo Porreca made this drawing of a foot scraper with graphite on paper, but we don't know when. It's all about the line work, isn't it? It's not about color, but more about form and texture. You can imagine Porreca carefully building up the tones to create depth and volume. It's a process of layering, of adding and subtracting, until the object takes shape. I’m drawn to the way the graphite captures the rough texture of the metal. The spiral shape has this beautiful rhythm, like a little dance frozen in time. There’s a tension between the functional purpose of the object and its aesthetic qualities. The twist almost has a decorative feel. I'm reminded of Piranesi's architectural etchings, or perhaps some of the industrial drawings of Joseph Pennell. But, ultimately, Porreca's "Foot Scraper" stands on its own as a testament to the beauty that can be found in the everyday. Art isn't always about grand gestures; sometimes, it's about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.