Flat Iron Holder c. 1939

Albert Taxson made this drawing of a Flat Iron Holder, using graphite on paper. What was he thinking, spending so long looking at an object from everyday life? Did the shapes of the iron holder suggest a hidden kind of beauty or elegance to him? I can imagine Albert, patiently observing, translating the three-dimensional form of the object into lines and tones on a flat surface. He coaxes out the subtle gradations of light and shadow to give it presence and weight. The simple lines transform into a kind of choreography. Artists transform ordinary, overlooked moments into something worthy of contemplation. Maybe Taxson found inspiration in the history of this particular object – or was simply drawn to its solid, geometric form? By giving attention to something so mundane, he elevates it, inviting us to see with fresh eyes. And maybe, just maybe, to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.