Silver Cup c. 1938

Hester Duany made this drawing of a silver cup sometime in the twentieth century using graphite and colored pencil on paper. Imagine her there, carefully observing every curve and glint of light on the surface of the metal. It’s like she’s trying to really *know* this cup, to understand its form and essence by recreating it on paper. Look closely at the handle – see how she’s captured the way it catches the light, the subtle gradations of tone that give it depth and dimension. I wonder what she was thinking as she drew it. Was she interested in the challenge of rendering such a reflective object? Or was there something more personal, some kind of connection to the cup itself? Maybe it was a family heirloom, a symbol of tradition and history. Artists often look at other objects. I bet she was in good company. This piece makes me think of Morandi's still lifes, you know? Anyway, isn’t it amazing how a simple drawing can hold so much meaning and emotion?