Rattle 1935 - 1942

Dana Bartlett made this gorgeous drawing of a rattle with graphite on paper. What a humble subject, rendered with such care and detail! It’s as if Bartlett is saying, “Even the simplest things in life deserve our attention.” Just imagine the artist, hunched over this piece, patiently building up the form with tiny, precise lines. What were they thinking about? Were they remembering the sound of a child’s laughter? Or were they simply captivated by the object, by the play of light and shadow on its surface? I can almost feel the texture of the wood and imagine the gentle clatter of the beads inside. You know, this drawing reminds me of some of the early modernists, like Giorgio Morandi, who found endless inspiration in the most ordinary objects: bottles, boxes, and bowls. But unlike Morandi’s muted tones, Bartlett’s drawing has a warmth and vibrancy that makes it feel so alive. The way the light catches the curves and edges of the rattle is just magical. It’s a reminder that art can be found anywhere, if we just take the time to look.