Andiron (one of pair) c. 1941

This drawing of an andiron, one of a pair, was made by Jacob Lipkin. I love drawings of functional objects, they seem so dedicated. Look at how he’s built up the form with these tiny, patient marks, coaxing the shape of this humble fireplace accessory into being. I imagine Lipkin, bent over his drawing table, really looking, really seeing this andiron – feeling its weight, its texture, its quiet strength. Maybe he was even thinking about what fire represents! It’s like he’s saying, “even the most ordinary things have beauty and worth if you take the time to really see them.” And that, in a nutshell, is what drawing and painting are all about. He's in conversation with other artists who draw and paint to think, to see the world. Every artist is in dialogue with the world around them, transforming mundane objects through their unique vision.