Butter Churn c. 1942

Harold Ballerd created this drawing of a butter churn using graphite and watercolor, the artwork measures approximately 28 by 36 centimeters. The composition focuses entirely on the churn, isolating it against a blank background. Ballerd meticulously renders the object's cylindrical form, capturing its texture through delicate lines and tonal variations. This concentration on form and texture invites a close observation of materiality. The use of watercolor adds a subtle depth, creating a sense of volume and mass. Ballerd’s emphasis on the object's structure can be seen as a reflection of a broader artistic and philosophical interest in understanding the underlying order of things. The churn is presented not merely as a functional item, but as a subject of study and contemplation, a site of ongoing interpretation.