Jar c. 1940

Alvin Shiren made this drawing of a jar using what looks like graphite or charcoal, maybe even watercolor. It's all about the subtleties of light and shadow, isn’t it? The artist really coaxes form out of the simplest gradations, almost like watching a photograph develop. I find myself drawn to the way Shiren captures the jar’s transparency and the way light bends and reflects on its surface. It’s quite delicate, the way the dark hues meet the light, creating depth, like you could reach out and touch it. You can almost feel the coolness of the glass and imagine the shadows it casts. It reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, how he could turn ordinary objects into something so contemplative. Shiren shares that same capacity for quiet observation, inviting us to slow down and really look.