Candy Container c. 1937

Francis Law Durand made this, Candy Container, using graphite on paper. What strikes me is the subtlety and control in Durand's mark-making. It's all about building up tone and shape with the lightest of touches. The drawing is so precise, but also tender in a way. The transparency of the glass feels almost palpable because he has captured the light playing on the surface. I am focusing on the way Durand handled the curved lid of the container, the way it catches the light. See how he's built up the layers of graphite so carefully? It's about making light and shadow work to describe form, but it's also about the pleasure of working with a humble medium. Durand reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi, who dedicated his life to drawing and painting bottles. Both these artists embraced constraint and found endless possibilities within it. It’s a reminder that art isn’t always about grand gestures, sometimes it’s about quiet observation and the joy of process.