Desk Box c. 1937

Mario De Ferrante made this drawing of a desk box, but the date is unknown, and the medium isn't specified. It's an image of a wooden box, focusing on how light and shadow play across the carved surface. Look at how he creates the illusion of depth through subtle shading. The texture of the wood is hinted at, not really described. The semi-circular carved designs on the front are interesting, how each one is slightly different. The rendering is careful, but not photographic. It gives us the idea of the thing, not the thing itself. The desk box feels like it could be an exercise in form and light, something maybe Cezanne would have painted if he wasn't so into fruit. The drawing is a gentle reminder that art is about seeing and interpreting, not just copying. It embraces a kind of quiet observation, inviting us to pause and find beauty in the everyday.