Saw c. 1940

Charles Charon made this drawing of a saw, probably with watercolor. The unassuming color palette, almost monochromatic, with its delicate washes of beige and brown, gives it a quiet intensity. See how Charon captured the way light moves across the wooden handle? It’s almost like a gentle caress. I love how he uses the white of the paper to describe the form. Look closely, you can almost feel the texture of the wood, and the sharp, unforgiving teeth of the blade. The whole thing has a kind of tender, melancholy quality. It makes you think about labor, about the way things are made, and the beauty that can be found in the everyday. It reminds me of the work of Giorgio Morandi, who also found endless inspiration in simple, overlooked objects.