Scales 1936

Broda made this study of weighing scales with pencil and watercolor on paper. The painting is direct and unaffected, presenting a utilitarian object with both precision and grace. You can almost feel the artist studying the object intensely, trying to understand the mechanisms of balance. I imagine Broda making it, carefully observing the play of light on the metal, the delicate chains, the weight hanging, and the stark geometry of the scale. There’s a meditative quality to the work; time seems to slow down as we contemplate something so ordinary. It reminds me of the work of artists like Giorgio Morandi, who found endless inspiration in the simplest of objects: bottles, bowls, and boxes. By focusing on the formal elements – the lines, shapes, and colors – Broda elevates the scales to something more than just a functional tool. It becomes a symbol of balance, measure, and the delicate tension between opposing forces. It’s a quiet, unassuming piece, but it speaks volumes about the power of observation and the beauty of the everyday.