Parasol 1937

George Roehl made this drawing of a parasol, no date given, probably using colored pencil or watercolor on paper. I love the obsessive detail given to the parasol’s handle. It’s all twists and turns, like the Laocoön sculpture, where snakes envelop a poor guy in coils. You can tell how much Roehl loved drawing, and the care he took with each line and hue. The paper around the parasol is blank, so the object becomes an event. The texture of the parasol material is evoked with such economy, just a few strokes that make it look almost like velvet. And the handle, with its smooth curves and intricate detailing, could be a Henry Moore sculpture. I love how the whole composition is spare, a little wonky and totally charming. It reminds me of some drawings by Guston, in its simplicity and directness, yet Roehl clearly has his own vision, turning an everyday object into a thing of beauty and fascination. Art is all about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary, right?