Pewter Flagon c. 1936

Eugene Barrell made this drawing of a pewter flagon with graphite on paper, though the date is unknown. Look how he coaxes the light across the surface. It's not just about rendering; it's like he’s feeling out the form, bit by bit. The cool thing about graphite is its range. It can be soft and smudgy, or sharp and precise. Barrell uses both, doesn’t he? See how he uses the smudgy bits to show the metal reflecting light, and he builds up these tiny, careful lines to describe the shape. This gives the whole thing a subtle energy. I'm drawn to how the handle loops and curls, a playful contrast to the vessel's more rigid form. It reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes. Both artists transform everyday objects into these quiet, contemplative studies. The beauty is in the looking, in finding something special in the ordinary. There's no right or wrong way to see it. What do you see?