Fireside Bellows c. 1937

Grace Halpin made this drawing of fireside bellows, and I can imagine her standing in front of the object, pencil in hand, trying to capture not just how it looks, but also its essence. I love how she's included these almost ghostly sketches on either side—it’s like she’s turning the object over in her mind, trying to understand it from all angles. The main drawing has these warm yellows and reds, and she’s really gone to town with the floral motifs. It feels so joyful. You know, when you’re drawing something, you’re not just copying what you see. You’re also interpreting, feeling, and responding. I wonder if she was thinking about other makers of drawings? Other drawings of tools? Or perhaps she was just enjoying the quiet focus of looking and drawing. I like to think of artists as being in conversation with each other, even across time. Halpin is like, "Hey, check out this bellows!" and we're all invited to join the conversation. And now you're part of it, too!