"Westward Ho" Compote 1935 - 1942

This drawing of a "Westward Ho" Compote was made by Paul Kelly at some point, but I don't know when. What I love about this piece is the way he embraces the process. The first thing you notice is the material aspect. It's a drawing, but it's also a drawing of glass. Glass is so translucent and fragile, and the drawing captures that quality. Look at the way Kelly renders the light passing through the glass, creating subtle shifts in tone and texture. The overall feeling is delicate, maybe even a little melancholic. Take a closer look at the figure on the lid. It’s so small and unassuming, yet it anchors the whole piece. This is where the drawing opens up—it's not just about the object itself, but also the story it tells, the history it holds. It makes me think of the drawings of Giorgio Morandi, who was similarly interested in the poetry of the everyday.