Hinge c. 1939

Alexander Berth made this drawing of a hinge, but when exactly, we don’t know. You can almost see him there, carefully observing the metal object, trying to capture its essence on paper. I wonder what Berth was thinking as he traced the hinge's form? It’s a simple tool that does an important job of connecting and allowing movement. But here, it looks almost like a strange insect or a curious, linear sculpture. Look at how the artist rendered the texture of the metal. You can see the weight and feel the coolness of the iron. I think it's so cool how he made it look three-dimensional using just lines and shading. Berth's drawing reminds me of other artists who find beauty and interest in everyday objects, transforming the mundane into something special. It's all about looking closely and finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Painting, like a hinge, connects us to the world in unexpected ways. It makes us think, feel, and see things differently.