Sand Shaker c. 1941

This is Renee Monfalcone’s ‘Sand Shaker’, made with graphite and watercolour. There's something about how the artist builds up the form of the shaker with such delicate strokes, a real sense of process, of finding the object through the making. Look at the warm browns and yellows, so thinly applied they feel like light itself. You can almost feel the grain of the wood, brought to life with these translucent washes. It's like she’s not just depicting the object, but also exploring its essence, how it sits in space, how light defines it. Notice how the base is more lightly rendered with pencil, like a diagram or study. For me, this piece speaks to a tradition of close observation and quiet contemplation, a bit like Agnes Martin's subtle explorations of line and form. It reminds us that art isn't always about grand gestures, but can also be found in the simple act of looking, and the joy of making.