Basket c. 1935

This drawing of a basket, by Michael Trekur, is a work of subtle observation, a kind of meditation in pencil on paper. I imagine Trekur hunched over the page, carefully mapping the woven surface with delicate marks. Look at how the lines create a push-pull effect, suggesting both the roundness of the form and the intricate texture of the basket weave. What was he thinking as he traced each intersection, each diamond and zigzag? It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grids, not in style, but in the repetitive gesture. The basket becomes a site of inquiry, a space for exploring pattern, form, and rhythm. Trekur wasn’t just copying a basket; he was thinking through it. These little marks accumulate into something complex and moving. Artists are in an ongoing conversation, aren't they, inspiring one another across time? Each mark, each gesture, is part of that exchange.