Men's Stock Buckles c. 1936

Charles Criswell made this drawing of Men’s Stock Buckles, using what looks like graphite or ink on paper. The way Criswell fills in the buckles with these tiny, almost scribbled marks reminds me of the way we build up layers in painting, searching for form. The drawing is so delicate, almost like a whisper. The soft, neutral tones of the paper and the muted grays of the buckles create a quiet, contemplative mood. There's something humble about rendering these everyday objects with such care, each tiny mark contributing to the overall texture and form. Look at the way he captures the light reflecting off the metal. It reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi, who elevated humble, quotidian objects through his art. Like Morandi, Criswell invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the mundane, finding poetry in the simplest of forms.