Strainer with Funnel c. 1936

Yolande Delasser made this drawing, titled 'Strainer with Funnel', with graphite on paper. Just imagine the artist sitting with these mundane objects in front of her. It makes me wonder, was it a challenge to elevate these items? I mean, who thinks to draw kitchenware? But look at those marks! Each stroke is a tiny decision. I can feel her trying to capture the light on the surface of the metal, the way it reflects and bounces around. Delasser is building up the shading, adding layer upon layer to create a sense of depth. You can see her hand moving across the paper, responding to the contours and textures. The hatching gives it real energy and sensitivity. There’s something so satisfying about how artists see the world. It’s like they’re saying, “Hey, look at this! Isn’t it amazing?” And by looking, really looking, we can start to see the world in new ways too. We're all in conversation with one another, borrowing, stealing, and transforming the ideas of those who came before us.