Flat Iron Holder c. 1938

Filippo Porreca made this drawing of a flat iron holder, probably with graphite, maybe charcoal, definitely with close looking and careful consideration. It's like he's not just drawing an object, but imagining its creation, how the metal would be cast, cooled, and shaped. I can feel his hand moving across the page, responding to the curves and lines of the object with a kind of tenderness. The repetition of forms, the way the heart shape echoes in the larger design, gives the drawing a rhythm, a kind of visual music. It reminds me of the work of architects and designers who see beauty in the everyday, elevating functional objects to art. And the way he includes those technical drawings to the side – it's like he's inviting us into the workshop, into the mind of the maker, showing us how form and function intertwine. It’s so great when artists have the courage to let this all hang out.