Wooden Noggin c. 1941

Gene Luedke created this drawing of a wooden noggin. The image shows a study of an object using line, color, and composition to convey depth and texture. Luedke’s artistic eye brings a sense of volume and materiality to what might otherwise be a mere technical drawing. The noggin itself is rendered with careful attention to the wood grain, each stave distinct yet harmonized by the encircling bands. These elements emphasize the noggin’s cylindrical form, further enhanced by the schematic drawings placed at each corner which detail the construction of the object from various viewpoints. The slight variations in tone and the delicate rendering of light, however, prevent the drawing from becoming overly rigid or mechanical. Luedke's study transforms a functional object into a subject of aesthetic consideration.