Shaker Dish Drainer 1935 - 1942

Lon Cronk drew this Shaker Dish Drainer using graphite on paper. Look at how the light falls across its surface, like dawn on a quiet morning. I wonder, did Cronk have to wash dishes after making this drawing? Was it a labor of love or a daily grind? There's a tenderness in the way he's rendered the object, elevating the everyday to something worthy of contemplation. The parallel lines of the rack create a sense of order and rhythm, while the soft gradations of tone add depth and dimensionality. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s quiet grids, in that it transforms something ordinary and functional into a subtle meditation on form, line, and light. We're all just trying to make sense of the world, one dish, one drawing at a time.