Silver Creamer 1936

Nicholas Zupa made this drawing of a silver creamer, we don’t know when, but isn't it lovely? I really enjoy the different tones achieved here, from the lightest greys that make up the body of the jug, to the darker shading that gives a sense of depth to the base. It really makes the object seem three-dimensional. I’m fascinated by the small, faint lines that make up the flower design in the centre. It’s as though the artist is slowly revealing the image to us, one stroke at a time, in a meditative process. When you look at it closely, you can see the outline sketch of the jug to the lower left of the page, with the jug's dimensions mapped out with exactitude, in stark contrast to the delicacy of the main image. The way Zupa brings out the jug's form through his process reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's etchings of bottles and vases. The drawing is a testament to how observation and mark-making can capture the essence of an object, transforming it into something more.