Umbrella Stand c. 1939

This "Umbrella Stand" was drawn by Herman Bader, but the date is unknown, and it's really all about line, isn't it? There’s something so pleasing about the repetition of forms here, like the circles at the top and the way the base echoes that shape, but with a kind of satisfying asymmetry. I love how the pencil work is so delicate, almost like a whisper on the page. Look at the details, those little flourishes and curves – they add a touch of personality to what could have been just a functional object. I mean, you can practically feel the texture of the metal, the way the light catches on those edges. It reminds me a bit of some of the drawings by Wayne Thiebaud, who also had this knack for making everyday objects feel special. But what’s cool about Bader’s drawing is how it embraces ambiguity. Is it a portrait of a real object, or is it something from a dream? Who knows? That’s what makes art so great – it’s all up for grabs.