Mug c. 1940

This mug was drawn by John Dana at an unknown date and with unknown materials. Look at the way Dana makes this glass mug appear almost weightless. It's like he's capturing light and air as much as the object itself. The shading is so delicate, it’s hard to believe this isn’t the real thing. The way he uses these soft, smudgy pencil strokes to suggest the curves and reflections of the glass is just magical. And check out the base of the mug. See how the lines ripple outward? It’s like watching a drop of water create expanding circles. It reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi's still life paintings, that same quiet focus on everyday objects, but with an added layer of almost photographic realism. It’s a reminder that art can be found in the simplest of things, if you just take the time to really look.