Vinegar Measure 1939

Clarence Secor made this drawing, Vinegar Measure, in 1939, and it’s all about simple observation. There's this quiet, unassuming quality to it, like folk art. What strikes me is the way he handled the wood texture. It’s not hyper-realistic, but you get a real sense of the grain, the rough-hewn quality. It’s like he’s translating the object into a language of marks, each stroke echoing the material’s inherent character. Look at the handle, and the little knot Secor includes. It's really charming. The color palette is limited, earthy tones, which adds to the humble feel. I'm reminded of Giorgio Morandi, with his still lifes of bottles. Secor shares that same interest in the beauty of the everyday. It’s not about perfection but about the honesty of the artist's hand. It's about seeing the world, one vinegar measure at a time.