Gridiron c. 1939

Maurice Van Felix drew this diagram, titled Gridiron, on paper at an unknown date. What’s interesting here is how a drawing constructs a site of inquiry. It makes you think about how things fit together, not just in terms of the object’s structure but also conceptually. The circular form and straight lines remind me of geometric abstraction. I wonder if Van Felix knew the work of other artists who were exploring similar themes. Maybe he found inspiration in their work, or perhaps he was driven by something entirely different. Whatever his motivations, this drawing feels like an exchange of ideas across time.