Server Dish c. 1937

This drawing of a server dish by Joseph Sudek is made up of subtle greyscale washes and delicate pencil lines. It kind of reminds me of Morandi's bottles, but with a more utilitarian vibe. I wonder what Sudek was thinking when he made this? Was he simply trying to capture the reflective qualities of the metal, or was he drawn to the dish's simple form and function? I can imagine him squinting through one eye, trying to get the curves just right. There's a quietness to this drawing, a stillness that invites contemplation. The soft greys create a sense of calm, while the precise lines give the object definition. The dish seems almost to float on the page, bathed in a gentle, ethereal light. Like an exercise in really, really seeing. Drawings like this remind me that art doesn't always have to be loud or flashy to be meaningful. Sometimes, the simplest things can be the most beautiful and profound. And sometimes, a dish is more than just a dish.