Fluting Iron 1935 - 1942

Lon Cronk made this image of a "Fluting Iron" with what looks like pencil and watercolor. You can see the graphite lines underneath the washes, a way of artmaking that reveals process. Look at the way the grey and brown washes create subtle gradations on the metal, giving the object form. I’m particularly drawn to the handle on the right, how it curves with purpose, inviting you to turn it. The artist shows a real sensitivity to the materials he’s representing, understanding their weight, their smoothness, their function. There's something about the way Cronk has rendered this object that reminds me of the American Precisionists, like Charles Sheeler, who found beauty in the clean lines of industrial forms. Both approaches leave space for us to meditate on the intersection of art, industry, and everyday life, a dialogue that continues to inspire.