Wooden Spoon Rack c. 1941

Sarkis Erganian painted this watercolor of a wooden spoon rack, and the approach is so unassuming, like the object itself. The colour palette is limited, almost monochromatic, but it speaks volumes. Look closely, and you'll see the texture of the wood grain, the subtle shadows that give depth to these humble kitchen tools. The paint is thin, transparent, allowing the paper to breathe beneath. I love the way Erganian captures the worn surfaces, the signs of use, and the evidence of wear that speaks to a history of daily life. That dark oval on the left-hand spoon, it’s not just a shadow, it’s a tiny universe of colour and texture. It pulls the whole piece together, grounding it in the everyday. It makes me think of Morandi, another artist who found profound beauty in the simplest of objects. Like Morandi, Erganian reminds us that art doesn’t always need to shout; sometimes, it whispers.