Compote (Blue Urn) c. 1936

Albert Eyth made this drawing called ‘Compote (Blue Urn)’ with graphite on paper. This is such a precise technical drawing, I find myself wondering what it might have been like to create. I bet the artist was in such a state of focus, so in the zone. It’s a world away from the gestural marks in my paintings. When you look closely, you can see all of the meticulous lines that were used to map out the symmetry of the urn. Look how the octagonal base is mapped out with concentric shapes, really showing how the object could come into being. I find that the lines have a quality of texture, like how you can almost feel the ridges and curves of the urn under your fingertips. It's almost like the artist is saying, "Hey, let's build this together." I suppose every artist is in conversation with what has come before them. It makes you wonder what’s next, and how we can keep pushing the boundaries. I think this piece shows how painting is a form of embodied expression that allows for endless interpretation.