Iron Toast Rack c. 1937

Florence Stevenson made this iron toast rack drawing, we don't know when, but the soft color and careful approach, feels like a slow and deliberate process. I love the way she's built up the surface of the rack with these little dabs of color, like she's really studied all the variations in the rust. You can almost feel the texture of the metal, see how it's been worn down by years of use. Each stroke feels so specific, like she's trying to capture not just the way it looks, but the way it *is*. Look at the handle, how it cuts across the rack at an angle. There’s a real contrast between the smooth, dark iron and the rougher texture of the rack itself. The drawing reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, they both share a kind of quiet intensity. Neither artist tries to make a big statement, but there is something deeply thoughtful about their work. In the end, it’s just a toast rack, but it’s also so much more.