Gridiron c. 1939

Maurice Van Felix made this drawing, Gridiron, with what looks like ink on paper. There's something almost scientific about the way the image is constructed with neat marks and lines, yet the rendering is decidedly handmade. I think about process when I see this. How many attempts did it take Van Felix to achieve this level of precision? The monochromatic palette focuses our attention on the graphic quality of the drawing. The texture of the paper becomes part of the work. Notice how the delicate, dotted lines create a sense of depth. The artist's hand is revealed in the slight variations and imperfections. Take, for example, the circular form at the top. The dashed outer ring implies a potential for movement, like a wheel turning, but in a strangely poetic way. It calls to mind the work of artists like Hanne Darboven, who also employed a systematic, almost obsessive approach to mark-making. But unlike Darboven, Van Felix injects a sense of playfulness and a quiet sense of humor. It's like he's saying, "Here's a tool, but what does it mean? What can it do?".