Rabbet Plane c. 1938

This is Samuel Faigin's 'Rabbet Plane', we don't know when it was made, but the artist was born in 1855 and died in 1995. Look at those carefully observed tonal gradations, the browns and greys, built up layer on layer. It's almost like a meditation on the process of making, with the artist paying close attention to every detail. The colour palette is muted, almost monochrome, which gives the object a sense of weight and solidity. The surface of the plane is rendered with subtle textures, suggesting the grain of the wood and the wear and tear of time. See how the light catches the edges and curves of the tool, creating a sense of depth and volume. There's a small chip at the base of the blade, a tiny detail that speaks volumes about the history of this object. It reminds me of some of the early still lives by Giorgio Morandi, where everyday objects are transformed into something monumental through careful observation and subtle shifts in tone and composition. Both artists invite us to slow down, to really look, and to appreciate the beauty of the mundane.