Iron Stand c. 1941

Elmo Fleming rendered this iron stand with watercolor and graphite at an undetermined date. The wheel-like design is almost floral, and has a great balance between darks and lights, creating a dynamic, engaging composition. The color palette here is pretty simple, but look at the way that the wash of brown watercolor gives a kind of weight to the ironwork. The use of graphite adds to the sense of volume, really bringing this utilitarian object into full focus. It makes me think about the way we see and value everyday things. That irregular sawtooth edging to the circle is really beautiful, like an imperfect cog, and that little cross-section at the bottom almost gives us an engineer's perspective on the object. It really feels like a labor of love! I’m reminded of Charles Sheeler, who also turned his exacting eye to the shapes of industry. It's funny how making art is really just paying attention.