Iron Trivet c. 1939

This is a watercolour on paper by William O. Fletcher, it's a study of an Iron Trivet. The way Fletcher teases out the form of this humble household object reminds me of Cezanne’s apples. The muted palette, all rust and umber, with hints of violet and gray, speaks to the iron’s age and the process of its making. It’s like Fletcher is saying, “Hey, even this thing, this simple thing, has a story to tell." I keep coming back to how Fletcher renders the trivet’s surface. The way the light catches the rust, it’s almost like he's trying to capture a feeling more than a visual likeness. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about seeing, it’s about feeling, and thinking, and maybe even remembering. It reminds me of Marsden Hartley's still lifes, that same reverence for the everyday.