Silver Tankard c. 1936

This drawing of a silver tankard was made by Horace Reina, though we don’t know exactly when. Look at these precise lines and the meticulous way they capture the sheen of metal; Reina is playing with light and shadow, thinking about how to render three dimensions on a flat surface. The drawing becomes a sort of architectural plan for a functional object. I wonder what Reina was thinking about, drafting all these details. Were they imagining the clink of ice, the weight of the tankard in someone’s hand? Or were they simply trying to capture the perfect curve of its handle? The drawing exists as both a celebration of craftsmanship and a moment of quiet contemplation. It makes me want to sit down and draw something, anything, and just get lost in the pleasure of lines on paper.