Gridiron c. 1939

Maurice Van Felix made this drawing of a gridiron, but when is hard to say, given he lived from 1855 to 1995. I'm interested in the grey graphite marks he has chosen, and how they build a sense of volume on the page through a slow and steady process. Look how Van Felix shades the metal, almost like he’s coiling the graphite around the object, giving it a real heft. The way the marks are built up makes the object look rough and used. It's not just a pristine depiction; it feels like this gridiron has stories to tell. I also love the way the curvilinear design of the grill contrasts with the straight handle and legs. It has this tension between practicality and artistry that I really dig. This reminds me of Morandi's still life paintings, but instead of bottles, we have a humble kitchen tool. Both artists transform everyday objects into something worth contemplating. Van Felix is reminding us that art can be found in the mundane, if we just take the time to really look.