Trivet c. 1938

This is Benjamin Resnick's drawing of a trivet, created sometime between 1855 and 1995 with graphite on paper. Notice how the artist has arranged the trivet in three views, creating a sense of looking at the same form from different angles. The surface of the paper is lightly textured, allowing the graphite to catch in the tooth of the paper, resulting in a granular, almost hazy quality. Look closely at how Resnick builds up tone through layers of graphite, particularly in the shadows and along the edges of the trivet. The lines are precise, yet there's a softness that keeps it from feeling overly mechanical, especially when he renders the legs. The way the object is rendered in light and shadow gives it an interesting sense of depth, as if we're looking at a real object rather than just a drawing. There's a quiet intimacy, as if Resnick is inviting us to share in his careful observation of the everyday. I'm reminded of the architectural drawings of Charles Sheeler, who elevated industrial design to high art. Ultimately, this is a work that asks us to reconsider our relationship with the overlooked objects in our lives.