Kettle c. 1940

Milton Grubstein made this drawing of a kettle probably sometime in the mid-20th century. The gray shading gives it such a metallic presence. I imagine Grubstein must have been really taken by the everyday object. I can see him studying the light as it hits the curved form. He probably worked slowly and deliberately. It's not about perfection, it's about observation. The metal kettle becomes a vehicle for exploring light, shadow, volume. And the way he renders the texture… is it smooth, rough, or worn? It’s like artists are having conversations through time. Grubstein is in dialogue with Chardin who is in dialogue with us. It reminds us that even the most mundane objects can become profound sources of inspiration and beauty. Painting is an act of embracing the world with all its messiness, its beauty, and its contradictions.