Mitt c. 1937

Ann Gene Buckley made this drawing of a "Mitt" sometime in her life, though we don’t know exactly when. Look at the gentle, repetitive marks that build up the form. I can imagine her, perhaps drawing something that was in front of her, or from memory. Maybe she’s thinking about all the work that goes into making these kinds of objects. There’s something about this drawing that feels very loving, very caring. Notice how the neutral color in the middle ground has been layered with an almost imperceptible cross-hatching of blues and browns. These shades emphasize the contours of the form, capturing how it would feel to hold and wear this item. The artist is focused on surface patterns and the unique qualities of the object that she is representing. Her quiet study of the form is so tender that it transforms the mitt into something precious. Ann Gene Buckley’s attention to craft invites me to think about the ongoing exchange of ideas, inspiring creativity across time.