Flat Iron Holder c. 1939

This drawing of a Flat Iron Holder was made by Albert Taxson, and it feels like a study in tone, in how to describe a metal object using graphite. Taxson’s marks are fascinating, they build up to give the impression of a heavy, functional object. It’s all about process here, the patient accumulation of marks, a quiet meditation on the object, and on the act of looking. I like the little flecks of graphite around the object, like dust or dirt, it makes the drawing feel very grounded. Look at the way Taxson has described the area where the metal pieces cross each other. There's a real confidence in the way the lines describe form, a lovely sense of depth and shadow, and a lot of useful information is communicated with a minimum of fuss. This reminds me a little of Jasper Johns’ drawings of everyday objects, there’s a similar sensibility at work, finding something profound in the mundane. It's a reminder that drawing, at its heart, is about seeing, about understanding the world through patient observation.