Churn c. 1936

Frank Fumagalli made this drawing of a churn, we don't know when, using what looks like watercolour or gouache. The earthy palette feels very grounded, with those warm browns and reds swirling together. Up close, you can really see the texture he’s created. It’s not just flat washes of color; there are darker flecks that suggest the rough surface of the churn itself. Look at the body of the churn. See how the pigment pools and separates, almost like rust or age spots? It’s not just about depicting an object; it’s about capturing the feeling of something old, something used. It is about the process of aging and the stories that objects carry. It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, who spent his life painting the same bottles over and over. There’s something profound in that repetition, in finding endless variations within a simple form. Art is always in conversation with itself, echoing and reimagining what came before, and inviting us to join the dialogue.