Trivet c. 1941

Edward Bashaw made this drawing of a trivet, and the way he renders the object’s form through careful shading is lovely. The image, constructed with such care, celebrates craft and the handmade. It’s easy to imagine Bashaw carefully observing the trivet, considering the interplay of light and shadow on its surface. What I appreciate most is the tangible, almost tactile quality he achieves. The drawing gives the impression of weight and substance to the trivet, a sense of its presence in space. The swirls at the top of the design, full of repeating circular forms, are nicely rendered. It reminds me a little of Guston’s late work, particularly in its embrace of a kind of everyday subject matter. But where Guston uses a clunky and exaggerated cartoon style, here, Bashaw offers this delicate realism, suggesting beauty can be found in the most humble of places.