Suggestion for Marble Benches: Garden Courts 1940

Eggers and Higgins, Architects made this pencil Suggestion for Marble Benches, for Garden Courts sometime between 1937 and 1975. It's all in pencil and that makes the level of detail pretty incredible. The way they've rendered the shadows gives the bench a real sense of weight and presence. It’s a reminder that artmaking is often about problem-solving, about finding ways to translate a three-dimensional object onto a flat surface. Look at the fluted column on the left. The pencil lines are so precise, but they also have a kind of softness. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi's architectural drawings, although those are much more dramatic. Both artists share a fascination with the way buildings can shape our experience of space. Ultimately, this drawing is a testament to the power of observation and the beauty that can be found in the everyday world.