Medallion and Chain c. 1936

Dana Bartlett made this drawing, "Medallion and Chain," with graphite and charcoal on paper. It’s fascinating to consider how something so rigid, like a piece of jewelry, is rendered with such delicate strokes. The limited palette really emphasizes the textures here, the way light catches on the metal, and creates shadows. Look closely at the links of the chain, each one meticulously shaded to give it volume and weight. I’m interested in the interruption of the form of the jewelry, the way it is almost broken, a suggestion of loss or absence. The piece invites us to see value in the discarded, in the everyday objects around us. It reminds me of the still life paintings of Giorgio Morandi. He transformed simple bottles and jars into monumental forms through careful observation and subtle variations in tone. Both artists invite us to slow down and really see the world around us.