Drawer Pull c. 1936

Matthew Mangiacotti made this rendering of a drawer pull, we don’t know when, using watercolor and graphite on paper. I love how simple and direct it is. I can almost feel Matthew, with a dry brush, layering the gold paint onto the graphite lines. His focus on light and shadow gives the metal depth and dimension. Imagine Matthew's concentration, carefully observing every curve and detail. There is a tension between precision and looseness. The keyhole plate, the pull, the side view, all float on the page. There is something so charmingly earnest about his exploration of form and function. It reminds me of technical drawings or blueprints, but with a personal, artistic touch. In some ways, this relates to the work of artists like Vija Celmins or even Giorgio Morandi, who transformed everyday objects into subjects of contemplation. It's a quiet, intimate dialogue between the artist, the object, and the medium.