Wooden Grain Shovel c. 1941

Pearl Davis made this ‘Wooden Grain Shovel’ with graphite on paper. There’s something so satisfying about the way she's handled the graphite here, creating a beautiful, smooth surface. You can almost feel the worn texture of the wood and imagine the countless scoops of grain it has held. It's like she's trying to capture the essence of this humble tool. Davis’ rendering of the shovel is so sensitive and detailed, emphasizing how everyday objects, elevated by art, can become profound. The gradients in the shading, from the lighter areas catching the imaginary light to the deep, rich darks in the scoop, give it a real sense of volume. It makes me think about the work of Giorgio Morandi, who also found endless inspiration in simple, domestic objects. I think what both artists are demonstrating is that art isn’t always about grand gestures; sometimes, it’s about looking closely and finding beauty in the everyday.