Silver Bowl c. 1936

Clayton Braun made this drawing of a silver bowl, measuring about 30 by 23 centimeters, sometime in the 20th century. It's all about light, isn't it? How it plays on the curves and contours of this elegant form. The bowl emerges from the paper through subtle gradations of tone. Look closely, and you can see how the pencil work creates an illusion of depth, of reflective surfaces. There's a second smaller drawing below, maybe an early sketch. I keep thinking about the history of the object itself, now lost to time. I wonder what stories this bowl could tell, who owned it, and what it held? I'm reminded of Vija Celmins's meticulous drawings of everyday objects and natural forms. But whereas Celmins is all about cool detachment, there's a warmth and intimacy to Braun's drawing. It's a quiet meditation on beauty, craftsmanship, and the enduring power of simple forms.