Iron Trivet c. 1939

This drawing of an iron trivet was made by William O. Fletcher, who lived a long life, from 1855 to 1995. You can see the rusty brown color of the metal, the triangle shape held aloft by tiny stubby legs. I wonder why Fletcher chose to draw this humble object. I imagine him carefully studying the trivet, noticing how the light hits the curved metal, and feeling a connection to the person who crafted it. Maybe Fletcher was thinking about the work of other artists, other makers, other hands, and how things we make carry stories and meanings. The iron trivet becomes a stand-in for something else: craft, labour, memory, history. Painters are like detectives, piecing together clues on the canvas, always learning and evolving. Fletcher's drawing encourages us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and history embedded in the everyday. It is a reminder that art is not just about grand gestures, but also about quiet contemplation.