Pewter Flagon c. 1936

Eugene Barrell made this drawing of a pewter flagon with pencil on paper. You can see how he has worked to capture the essence of the pewter’s smooth surfaces. I bet he used a kneadable eraser, pushing it into the page to carefully lift the graphite and create the highlights that suggest the metal's sheen. Look at the careful hatching and cross-hatching that builds up the tones and shadows, each stroke deliberate and precise. I wonder if he labored over this for hours, perhaps even days? There's something deeply satisfying about the quiet intensity of this drawing. The way the light catches the curves of the flagon, the subtle variations in tone. It's as if Barrell is inviting us to pause and appreciate the simple beauty of everyday objects, elevating the mundane to something worthy of contemplation. The way he has captured the essence of the object; this is the point of painting and drawing, isn’t it? This flagon, to me, suggests that beauty is everywhere, if only we take the time to look.