Branding Iron

Elizabeth Johnson

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of a branding iron in the shape of the letter 'B' alongside a drawing of the same letter. The image depicts a metallic branding iron designed to impress the letter 'B' into a surface. The branding iron has a handle extending from its back. The letter 'B' that it can produce is shown next to the branding iron. The painting shows attention to textures and shadows, highlighting the metal's aged appearance. The artist's name, Elizabeth Johnson, appears at the lower left of the painting. This is in the style of detailed realism.