Branding Iron c. 1942

Elizabeth Johnson made this watercolor of a branding iron at an unknown date. I can imagine her holding the brush, carefully outlining the cold metal. The handle stretches across the page, ending in a small loop. It's like she's trying to capture not just the object, but also its ghost, its mark. Johnson must have thought about what it meant, this symbol seared into skin, representing ownership. She's tracing the lines of the branding iron, almost like she's trying to understand its history and its power. It reminds me a little of Vija Celmins, the way she renders everyday objects with such care and precision that they become almost abstract. It shows how artists are constantly looking at each other, drawing inspiration across time, and adding their own voices to the ongoing conversation.