Beer Mug c. 1939

This drawing of a beer mug, by Carl Buergerniss, probably involved some careful measuring and planning. I wonder, did he draw the object from life, or use his imagination? The cool blues and grays give it a sense of calm, but also a kind of formality, like a technical drawing. I imagine Buergerniss, carefully observing the object, trying to capture every detail. It makes me think about the relationship between observation and representation. How do we translate something three-dimensional into two dimensions? I’m curious about the role of craft and design in the artist's wider practice, and in German art of the time. What were other artists doing? How were they approaching similar subjects? Ultimately, this drawing is part of a longer, ongoing conversation between artists, each one influencing and inspiring the next. And now, we are part of that conversation, too.