Pewter Covered Water Pitcher c. 1936

This is Joseph Stonefield’s ‘Pewter Covered Water Pitcher’, drawn with graphite on paper. Look at the subtle gradations, almost imperceptible changes in tone, which create a gentle, shimmering effect over the pitcher’s surface. Stonefield really took his time, and wasn’t afraid of slow looking. I love how he has captured the soft sheen of the pewter, the way the light seems to cling to its form. It makes me think about the relationship between drawing and sculpture, how a flat image can evoke the volume and weight of an object. Note the small schematic drawing in the corner, as if he is mapping out his own process. Stonefield’s interest in the textures of everyday objects reminds me of Giorgio Morandi. Both artists find endless inspiration in the mundane. Stonefield’s image, like Morandi’s paintings, becomes a space for contemplation, a quiet reminder of the beauty in simplicity. It’s a dialogue across time, isn't it? A reminder that art is never created in a vacuum.