Pewter Coffee Pot c. 1936

This drawing of a Pewter Coffee Pot was made by Eugene Barrell sometime in the 20th century. What strikes me is the patient, almost meditative process Barrell must have employed to achieve these delicate gradations of tone. It’s all about slowly building up the image through layers, a bit like glazing a painting, but with graphite. The surface has a lovely sheen. The artist really coaxes the light out of the metal with their pencil. Look at the way the vertical fluting catches the light, each plane a slightly different value. And the way the handle curves, a playful flourish against the stoic geometry of the pot itself. There's a real tension between utility and ornamentation here, which I think is echoed in the material properties of the drawing. This reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, another artist obsessed with the subtle variations of tone and form found in everyday objects. But while Morandi was all about muted colours, Barrell achieves a similar sense of quiet contemplation through the humble medium of graphite. For both, art isn't about grand gestures, but about seeing the world anew through careful observation.