Grinder 1935 - 1942

Nicholas Amantea made this drawing of 'Grinder' with what looks like watercolour or gouache on paper, and I love the humble, everyday subject matter. I can imagine him setting up this still life in his studio, patiently observing and translating the forms onto paper. You can almost feel the weight and texture of the old wood and rusted metal. It looks like hard work, I think, to capture the patina of age and use with such care. The colours are muted, a very limited palette of earthy browns, which gives it a sense of quiet intimacy. It reminds me of the work of Giorgio Morandi, another artist who found endless inspiration in the simplest of objects. There's a conversation between artists here, a shared appreciation for the beauty in the mundane. It’s as though he's saying, "Look closer, there's so much to see right in front of you.”