Pewter Porringer c. 1936

Charles Cullen created this drawing of a pewter porringer; a vessel for soup or porridge, using graphite on paper. The drawing is super precise, almost mechanical, yet there’s something so intimate about it. See how Cullen meticulously renders the light as it falls across the bowl, using graphite to create subtle gradients. The surface almost glows. He highlights the object’s details in separate diagrams; It is like he is documenting every angle, every imperfection. Look closely at the handle; it’s got this ornate, almost baroque flourish. It contrasts the simple, functional form of the bowl, and the geometric frame in which the drawing is situated. It is as if Cullen is challenging us to think about how art can elevate the everyday. You know, Agnes Martin also used grids and simple shapes. Both artists create these quiet, meditative spaces. It is like they’re saying, "Hey, let’s slow down and really look at the world around us." Which is what art is all about, right?