Pewter Tankard c. 1936

Charles Cullen made this drawing of a pewter tankard sometime in the 20th century, using graphite on paper. It's a quiet piece, understated in its dedication to form and light. You can really see his process in the build-up of tone, the way he coaxes the metal's sheen out of the page with careful, almost hesitant marks. There's something deeply satisfying about the gradations of gray, the way they describe the curves and planes of this object. Look at how the light catches the lip of the tankard, how Cullen uses the subtle shifts in value to suggest its three-dimensionality. It's not about flashiness or bravado, but about a slow, patient observation. That kind of reminds me of Morandi. It is a conversation with the everyday. I think that these artists share a similar sensibility. They both invite us to slow down, to really look at the world around us. It's in that attentive looking that we discover something truly special.