Silver Tea Caddy c. 1937

Michael Fenga made this drawing of a Silver Tea Caddy, but we don't know exactly when or with what materials. It's rendered in such soft graphite that it’s hard to believe this is a drawing of metal, and not something much more malleable. Look at the way the light is described, how the tone shifts and blends. The whole drawing feels like one continuous gradient, a kind of atmospheric study. The edges of the tea caddy almost dissolve into the background. It's so subtle! There are no real outlines. Instead, Fenga coaxes the form from the ground with these gentle gradations. The shield on the side of the caddy is interesting. It's hard to make out the details, and that feels right. It's about light and surface, not heraldry or history. Thinking about other artists, this reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, who made endless paintings of bottles and jars. It’s not about the objects, but about seeing, and about the process of making.