Ink Sander c. 1940

Frank Gray made this watercolor and graphite drawing of an ink sander, but we don't know exactly when. The image presents an intriguing object, a vessel used to dry ink quickly. Its humble function speaks to a time before ballpoint pens, when handwriting was a more deliberate, considered act. This drawing invites us to consider the social role of art. Was Gray celebrating the beauty of everyday objects, elevating a functional item to the realm of art? Was he documenting a disappearing technology? Perhaps it reflects a nostalgia for a slower, more tactile way of life, before the rise of mass production. As historians, we can look to sources like trade catalogs and period advertisements to understand the ink sander’s place in the culture of its time. Such research helps us interpret Gray's drawing not just as a still life, but as a document of social and technological change.