Mortar c. 1940

Here we see "Mortar," a drawing by Hester Duany, notable for its meticulous rendering of form and texture. The drawing is dominated by the central, symmetrical composition of the mortar, its dark wood grain contrasting with the plain background. Duany’s careful attention to the object's contours and the play of light across its surface draws us into the materiality of the wood. We observe a cylindrical body that narrows to a waist before flaring out to a wide base. The artist’s technique emphasizes the object’s tactile qualities. The wood grain swirls and curves, rendered with precise lines and subtle gradations of tone, providing a sense of depth and volume. The mortar, typically a tool of preparation and transformation, becomes in Duany's drawing, an object of contemplation. The composition’s symmetry and the careful balance between light and shadow imbue the object with a sculptural presence. In this work, Duany elevates the everyday to the level of art.