Pewter Porringer c. 1936

This drawing, "Pewter Porringer," was made by Charles Cullen, who lived from 1855 to 1995. Just looking at it, you can tell it’s about careful observation. The evenness of the pencil strokes, the way the light fades across the surface – it all speaks to a real attentiveness. The whole thing feels very deliberate. It’s just a drawing of a simple object, but the artist has clearly spent time looking at the subtle gradations of tone, how the metal reflects light. The little technical drawing at the bottom, with its measurements, it’s like he’s saying, ‘this is not just a drawing, it’s a record.’ It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, in its quiet focus and repetition. It’s like Cullen is finding something profound in the everyday, elevating a simple object to something worthy of contemplation. Like all art, it invites us to slow down and really see.