Silver Sugar Bowl c. 1936

Bernard Westmacott made this drawing of a silver sugar bowl at an unknown date with graphite on paper. You can see the delicate, almost imperceptible gradations in tone, that create the illusion of three-dimensionality. The symmetry is pleasing and it all looks pretty formal. But I'm more interested in the artist’s hand, and the way they used the graphite. Look closely at the way Westmacott has rendered the light as it falls over the bowl, ever so softly; it is so even, almost like it’s been airbrushed. The material is very fine, like dust. In a way, this piece reminds me of photorealism, or trompe l'oeil. This isn't just a drawing; it's about the surface, the light, the shadows, and the air around an object. The precision and care remind me a little bit of Agnes Martin, who, like Westmacott, used a limited palette and simple forms to create something quite profound and beautiful. Both show us that sometimes, the most interesting things are the ones we overlook.