Pewter Tankard c. 1936

Henry Meyers made this drawing of a Pewter Tankard sometime in the 20th century using graphite. It's clear Meyers wasn't just representing an object; he was studying its form, breaking it down into its essential components with clean lines and subtle shading. The tankard itself is rendered with a soft, almost dreamy quality. Meyers's hand is evident in the gentle gradations of tone that suggest the metal's sheen. The meticulousness extends to the surrounding details – the exploded diagrams, each neatly labeled and measured, offer insight into the tankard's construction. Look at the way Meyers captures the curve of the handle, it almost begs to be held. This reminds me of some of the technical drawings you see in engineering, but imbued with an artistic sensibility. It’s like he’s thinking about Josef Albers, who was interested in how the same form or shape could be subtly changed by different applications of color. It’s a testament to the idea that even the most functional objects can be a source of beauty and inspiration.