Goblet 1939

Here is a subtle Goblet by Ralph Atkinson, of an unknown date, rendered with pencil and watercolour. I can imagine him trying to capture the transparent and reflective qualities of the glass. The artist’s careful attention to detail is evident in the delicate lines and shading. Those tiny little bobbles around the rim! I wonder, was he trying to evoke the sense of holding a delicate object, feeling the weight and coolness of the glass in his hand? When I see this, I think of the still life tradition, where everyday objects are transformed into moments of contemplation. It makes me wonder about the relationship between art and life, between the things we use and the ways we see them. Atkinson invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the simple things. It's a conversation across time, isn't it?