Flask 1935 - 1942

William Kieckhofel made this drawing of a flask sometime in the 20th century using what looks like pencil or crayon. The color is all in the greens and blues, giving it a kind of antique feel. Looking at this drawing, I'm drawn to the way Kieckhofel uses color to create depth and texture. The surface of the flask isn't smooth, it's all mottled and dappled with different shades. There are these tiny, almost imperceptible marks that give the flask a sense of age and history. The way that the drawing is built up from these individual marks reminds me of the way that abstract expressionists would build up a painting from layers of gestures. Look closely at the way Kieckhofel renders the cornucopia, how the lines vary in thickness and intensity. It's kind of like he's mapping the form, finding its volume. Seeing how he uses simple tools to create something so evocative reminds me that art isn't about perfection, it's about the process of seeing and feeling. It has echoes of the work of Giorgio Morandi, who found endless possibilities in simple objects.