Hitching Post c. 1938

Albert Ryder made this drawing of a Hitching Post, and it looks like he used graphite or charcoal to create it. The texture is so interesting, it's smooth but you can still see the tooth of the paper underneath. Ryder really captures the heft and weight of the metal, and the way it might feel to the touch, cold, weathered. See how the drawing is built up through these very small and soft marks and gradations of tone, almost like a Seurat painting? And that ring! It’s heavy and solid, but also slightly off-kilter and handmade. It reminds me a bit of a Giorgio Morandi still life, with its quiet, humble subject matter and focus on light and shadow. This piece really makes me think about how something functional can become elevated into art, and how the artist's touch can transform the everyday into something truly special.