Unknown Object 1935 - 1942

This watercolor and graphite drawing presents an intriguing, almost surreal object. It’s anonymous, so we don’t know who made it or what it represents. I’m thinking about the artist experimenting, playing with form and color. The cool blues and greens contrast with the warm peachy tones, creating a sense of depth and volume. There's a rectangular box-like form, maybe a drawer, perched on a pedestal, topped with what looks like a goblet, all rendered with careful shading and attention to detail. I wonder if they were thinking about the tradition of still life painting, but giving it a weird twist. There are all these notes around the drawing which suggest a kind of technical or instructional exercise. I am interested in the combination of instruction and freedom. It reminds me that artists are always building on what came before, finding new ways to see and represent the world, or, in this case, an unknown object.