Trivet c. 1942

This beautifully rendered trivet was drawn by Paul Poffinbarger sometime in the 20th century. I’m struck by the precision with which he's captured this humble object. I mean, think about it: a trivet! It's such an everyday thing, easy to overlook. And yet, Poffinbarger treats it with such care, almost reverence. He’s zeroed in on the shadows, the subtle variations in tone, so it practically pops off the page. You can see the texture of the metal, feel the weight of it. What was Poffinbarger thinking as he drew this? Was he celebrating the simple beauty of functional objects? Was he drawn to the intricate patterns, the way the light plays across the curves? I think there's something really profound in taking the time to really *see* something ordinary. It reminds us that beauty can be found anywhere, in the most unexpected places. And it's a testament to the power of art to transform the way we see the world.