Brooch c. 1938

John H. Tercuzzi made this drawing of a Brooch using an unknown medium on paper. You can really see Tercuzzi’s drafting process, those confident lines defining shapes, all that hard-edged geometry. It’s interesting how the artist gives form to precious gems and gold using accessible materials like paper and pencil. The black ink shimmers like obsidian, and the gold gleams thanks to the contrast. Tercuzzi’s process isn’t hidden, it’s there in the textured application of color, the subtle variation of line and shade. Look at the shadow cast by the pin—it gives it a tangible sense of weight. This reminds me of Hilma af Klint’s geometric explorations. Both artists transform abstract ideas into visual form, though with very different ends. In the end, it's about seeing the world in new ways, isn’t it? And Tercuzzi offers us a small, sparkling glimpse.