Pitcher c. 1938

Frank Fumagalli made this drawing of a pitcher out of graphite and watercolor, but when? There is no artwork date! I like to think of the graphite as a kind of structural underpainting, giving form to the more whimsical blues and greys of the watercolor. Look at the surface texture, the way the graphite seems to shimmer, suggesting the cool, weighty feel of the pitcher. The blue decoration is applied with a certain freedom, each brushstroke distinct, like individual thoughts or breaths. Notice how the drips and variations in color create a sense of movement. There’s a really beautiful tension between precision and spontaneity in this work, a push-pull between the solid form and the fluid medium, which keeps it feeling alive. This makes me think of Giorgio Morandi. The pitcher isn't just an object; it's a meditation on form, light, and the quiet beauty of everyday things. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas that transcends time. Ultimately, it's about embracing ambiguity and finding new ways of seeing the world.