Flatiron c. 1940

In this drawing by Maurice Van Felix, we see a flatiron, rendered with graphite on paper. The artist coaxes the form out of the page, using the paper's tone as a starting point, building up darker tones, and digging back to the light. The metal is brought to life with such care. See the texture, as if the thing could be picked up straight from the wall. There's something so nice about an artist paying attention to such a mundane object, but in doing so, drawing us in, inviting us to contemplate its purpose. What was Van Felix thinking when he made this? Did he think about his clothes? Did he think about labour? The texture, the simplicity, the tones all remind me of Giorgio Morandi’s still life paintings. It makes me wonder if Van Felix knew his work, or if it's just that artists are always in conversation with one another, across time. Who will be inspired by this drawing in years to come?