Still life with vases on a table 1931

This is a drawing by Giorgio Morandi, it's of still life with vases on a table, and it was made using hatching and cross-hatching with ink or pencil. What strikes me is Morandi's use of repeated marks to build tone, creating an almost meditative process of image creation. Looking at the composition, the arrangement of the vases creates a sense of quiet contemplation. The texture achieved through hatching and cross-hatching gives a tactile quality to the otherwise simple forms, the absence of color focuses our attention on the interplay of light and shadow, revealing the subtle nuances of the surface. The delicate balance of tones and textures invites us to slow down and engage with the artwork on a deeper level. Notice the small, dense marks creating shadows to the upper right of the tallest vase: this feels like the key, both formally and metaphorically, to the balance of the whole picture. Morandi’s work reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's drawings; both invite a similar level of quiet looking, showing us that art doesn't always have to shout to be heard, sometimes it whispers.