Leather Shoe c. 1940

Rose Campbell-Gerke made this drawing, Leather Shoe, with what looks like colored pencil and graphite, and you can see every bit of attention she gave it. The shoe sits a little off-kilter, worn, resting, as though it’s just been kicked off. The delicate gradations of color give form to the supple leather and the wooden sole. I imagine Rose hunched over her table, her brow furrowed as she carefully observed the object in front of her. Each tiny mark reveals the time and consideration she invested. You can see the little metal tacks at the edge of the shoe, each one a tiny sphere of light and shadow, which is pretty amazing, right? She seemed driven by this gentle curiosity to look closely at the world, and to share her patient observation with us. Looking at this artwork, it makes me think of other artists, like Giorgio Morandi, also quietly making their work. I can feel her whispering, *look, look, isn’t this something?*