Shaker Scales c. 1941

George V. Vezolles made this drawing of ‘Shaker Scales’ sometime in the first half of the 20th century with graphite and watercolor on paper. The grey monochrome tones give it a very subdued and quiet appearance, but actually, it’s a drawing of something meant to measure weight. I imagine Vezolles, poised with his pencil, carefully building up the image through thin layers of graphite and watercolor. The rendering is precise and meticulous. Look at those subtle gradations of tone that give form to the metal—and it's a still life, but it's like a portrait, isn’t it? There’s something so attentive, respectful, and intimate in the artist's gaze. The heart-shaped forms holding up the balance are such a beautiful detail—they soften the severe symmetry and functionality of the object. You get the impression of an exchange of ideas across time and generations—Vezolles looking at Shaker craft, making his own form of beauty from it. The balance becomes a metaphor for something else—life, love, work...