Mortar and Pestle c. 1940

Paul Poffinbarger made this watercolour of a mortar and pestle, and what strikes me is the patient, careful touch. It feels like Poffinbarger is not just representing these objects, but really *feeling* them out. Look at how he builds up the textures. It's all in these tiny, controlled washes. The way the light catches on the metal, especially on the pestle, has this delicate sheen. There's a real sense of weight and substance, but it’s achieved with such a light touch. You can see this particularly on the base of the mortar with the stacked rings. They are not perfect, they are rendered with such precision and care as to evoke the hand of the artist. It reminds me a little bit of Morandi, in that both artists are taking these everyday objects and elevating them to something almost monumental through the sheer act of looking and painting. Both have the understanding that through sustained and focused attention, what is most important is revealed. And, like Morandi's paintings, the longer you look, the more there is to see.