Silver Serving Set c. 1936

Editor: This is a drawing from around 1936 by Ellen Duncan, titled *Silver Serving Set*. It’s created with ink and pencil on paper. What immediately strikes me is the interplay of light and shadow to create that reflective, silvery texture. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Indeed, the artist’s focus lies within the representation of form and surface. Note the calculated use of hatching and tonal variation to suggest the curved planes and metallic sheen of the silverware. It moves beyond mere representation; Duncan engages with the inherent visual properties of reflectivity itself. Consider how the abstract linear patterns inscribed on the set’s surfaces interact with the overall form, creating a visually engaging dialogue between surface and structure. Editor: So, the artist is almost celebrating the qualities of reflectivity by accentuating the highlights and shadows. Curator: Precisely. The meticulous detail serves not to replicate the objects exactly, but rather to explore the artistic possibilities within their form. Are the stylized ‘M’s on each handle merely decorative or integral structural components? Editor: That's a fascinating question, actually! I think that focusing on these elements is making me notice the geometric variations between each utensil. Like, the way each form is uniquely contained. Curator: Absolutely, that unique visual quality in each contributes to the formal dynamic of the work as a whole. Editor: Okay, I am now seeing this in a completely different light; thanks to the conversation, I will surely explore her work. Curator: An object's intrinsic elements create many stories to unravel.