Glass c. 1936

Lillian Causey made this drawing, called Glass, probably sometime in the 20th century, and I’m struck by how she uses pencil in such a delicate, almost tentative way. It’s like she’s feeling her way around the form, tracing its edges with the lightest touch. There’s a real intimacy to this piece, isn’t there? The texture of the paper, the way the light catches the glass, the subtle gradations of tone – it all feels so immediate and present. I love the way she captures the transparency of the glass, hinting at its form without fully defining it. Look at the base of the glass, see how the pencil lines seem to dissolve into the paper? It’s like she’s inviting us to fill in the gaps, to complete the image with our own imagination. This drawing reminds me a bit of Morandi and his still lives, that same quiet contemplation of everyday objects. Ultimately, I think it’s a piece that embraces ambiguity, inviting us to see the world in a new light.