Drawer Pull c. 1936

Matthew Mangiacotti made this small drawing of drawer pulls in pen and watercolour on paper, but who knows when. It’s so precise, almost like a technical diagram, but with these lovely, expressive washes of gold and green that give it real character. The washes of colour are thin and transparent, allowing the paper to breathe and creating a luminous effect, especially in the way the gold subtly shifts and shimmers. He’s really nailed that metallic gleam. I love how the ornamental details of the handles are rendered with such care, each little flourish and curve precisely observed. Look at how the light catches on the edges of the keyhole plate, it gives the whole thing a sense of depth and volume, despite the flatness of the paper. The way he's laid down these colours makes me think of Charles Demuth, who also used watercolour in a way that was both precise and poetic. It's like they're both having a conversation across time, about how much you can do with so little, about how art is not just about making a thing, but also about seeing.