Butter Mold 1935 - 1942

Anthony Zuccarello made this drawing of a butter mold at an undetermined date. It looks like he used watercolor and maybe some graphite on paper. I’m drawn to how Zuccarello's subtle palette creates depth and form. You see how the browns and tans blend almost imperceptibly? It gives the piece a kind of humble realism, but it’s also kind of dreamlike. Take a look at the lower part of the butter mold with its floral design. The way he renders the textures is amazing. You can almost feel the grain of the wood, the subtle indentations that would create the pattern in the butter. The precision of the drawing and the warmth of the color create a really intimate experience, like you are holding the mold in your hands. This feels reminiscent of some of the still lifes by Giorgio Morandi. He had this knack for taking everyday objects and turning them into these monumental, almost spiritual things. In both cases, it's like they're inviting us to slow down, to really look at the beauty in the mundane.