Mortar and Pestle c. 1940

Edward Bashaw rendered this mortar and pestle in a muted palette, focusing on shape and texture. The composition is simple yet deliberate. The cylindrical mortar stands upright, its solid form contrasting with the slender pestle resting beside it. Bashaw's use of light and shadow models the volume of these objects, creating a sense of depth on the flat surface. The texture, though implied, suggests a rough, tactile quality, hinting at the utilitarian nature of the tools. There is a stillness here, which is both a representation of the object and perhaps an allusion to time itself. Consider how the artist isolates these tools against a neutral background. This technique draws attention to their form and function, while the stark simplicity evokes a sense of timelessness. The artist invites us to contemplate the everyday objects that shape our lives.