Flail c. 1937

Frank Eiseman made this small painting of a flail sometime before 1960. It's brown on beige, a humble domestic scene. You can imagine Frank peering intently at this ordinary tool, trying to capture its essence in simple washes of color. I’m so curious about how artists choose their subject matter. What drew Frank to this agricultural tool? Maybe he saw a quiet beauty in its form, the way the light catches the wood, the simple elegance of its design. The flail sits there so matter-of-factly, a humble testament to a life lived close to the earth. It reminds me that painting isn't just about grand gestures or big ideas; it's about finding significance in the everyday, the overlooked. And it reminds me of other painters - think Giorgio Morandi - who spent their lives exploring similar themes. We artists keep looking and learning from each other across time. We are one big, messy, creative family.