Hitching Post c. 1937

Milton Grubstein made this drawing of a hitching post, we don't know when, but it's made with graphite, ink, and wash on paper. The tonality in this work is so muted, so tonal, like an object faded by history. It's a study in light and shadow, a real meditation on form, from the solid base to that wonderfully bizarre fist clenching rings at the top. Look closely, and you can see the subtle variations in shading that give the post its three-dimensional form. The way Grubstein uses line and wash reminds me of architectural renderings, but with this quirky, folk art twist. I am not sure how accurate is this rendering, there is something odd about this object. This piece reminds me of the drawings of Martin Ramirez, in the way it elevates an everyday object to the level of art. It's that contrast that makes the work so compelling, and ultimately, so human.