Mortar and Pestle c. 1936

Theodore Pfitzer's "Mortar and Pestle" is an undated work on paper, a simple still life rendered with humble materials. The color palette is minimal, just warm browns and creams, carefully applied to mimic the smooth grain of the wooden kitchen tool. The artist's focus seems to be on process and observation. It is a meditation on form and function. Look closely, and you can see the subtle gradations of tone that give the objects a sense of volume and weight. The drawing appears to be a detailed copy of the object. It is a record of something real, carefully observed, and meticulously transcribed. It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, who painted the same bottles over and over. Pfitzer shows us the beauty and quietness in the everyday. Both artists share an interest in simple forms and subdued color, suggesting an ongoing conversation about the poetry of the mundane.