Pewter Teapot 1936

Robert Brigadier made this ‘Pewter Teapot’ in 1936, using what looks like graphite or charcoal on paper. I like the grey scale; it’s almost like a black and white photograph. But the blending also has this atmospheric, soft quality. I’m intrigued by the burnished effect Brigadier achieves, where the form of the teapot almost emerges from the paper. If you look closely, especially at the spout, you can see the individual lines and the build up of the tone. It makes me wonder about the time he spent on it and his dedication to the process. This reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi’s still life paintings, with their muted tones and emphasis on simple, everyday objects. Both artists seem interested in the poetry of the ordinary and the potential for beauty in the mundane. The beauty is in the observation and the tonal values, rather than the subject itself.