Silver Sugar Tongs 1935 - 1942

This is Mary Berner's drawing of 'Silver Sugar Tongs'. The tools rest horizontally on the page, centrally positioned. The muted tones create a quiet, contemplative mood, inviting us to consider the ordinary with a fresh perspective. The composition is deceptively simple, but within it, Berner explores the interplay of form and function. The tongs' elegant curves and the subtle gradations of shading articulate their metallic texture. The artist pays close attention to the play of light on the object's surface. Berner's drawing employs a semiotic system where the sugar tongs become more than just utensils. Through precise lines and careful rendering, she elevates the everyday object to a subject worthy of aesthetic contemplation. This challenges conventional hierarchies of value, suggesting that beauty and meaning can be found in the most mundane of places.