Scissors 1939

Wellington Blewett made this drawing of scissors sometime in his lifetime. I love this tender and precise rendering of a common tool. It makes me think about the history of art, and the history of painting in particular. I imagine Blewett, deeply engrossed, patiently building up the form of the scissors with delicate marks. The way he articulates the worn metal gives them a distinct and aged presence. Look how the scissors float on the page—they become sculptural, almost iconic. Blewett brings forth their tactile qualities. You can almost feel the cold metal and the familiar give-and-take of opening and closing. It reminds me of the way Morandi would paint bottles, elevating the mundane to something worthy of deep contemplation. There is a quiet beauty here, an appreciation for the everyday. These scissors, so carefully observed, invite us to consider the stories objects can tell and the labor they represent.