Silver Mug c. 1937

This shiny mug was rendered in pencil by Vincent Carano. I imagine the artist carefully observing the highlights and shadows on the mug, trying to capture the metallic sheen with graphite. There's something humble about drawing an everyday object like this. What might Carano have been thinking as he drew each line, each curve? How did he feel about rendering the smooth, cool surface of the mug? It is an object which might be cold, or perhaps something to hold a warm drink. It makes me think about Morandi, the still-life painter. Both artists share a similar quiet focus, finding beauty and interest in the mundane. There's a real skill in seeing the world in this way, and sharing that vision with us. And now, seeing it has made me thirsty!