Foot Scraper c. 1938

This foot scraper was made in the 17th century by John Wilkes, the media is unknown but has a watercolor effect. The artist’s approach is detailed, precise, and almost scientific. The muted palette reflects the metal, it's so cold and somber it’s like a premonition of the industrial revolution. There’s a beautiful tension between the curves at the top and the rigid verticals. Look at the greyish sleeve at the bottom of the right leg, where the base meets the floor, it’s so meticulously rendered it’s easy to imagine the artist painstakingly layering delicate washes of color to achieve the desired effect. That particular area makes me think about touch and use. It's almost forensic, like a crime scene photo. Think of a piece by Bernd and Hilla Becher, who documented industrial structures with a similar objective precision. This isn’t just an image of a foot scraper; it’s a document, an artifact, a ghost from the past. Art is an ongoing conversation, and Wilkes started a fascinating dialogue that continues to this day.