Silver Mug c. 1936

This silvery mug was drawn on paper by Hester Duany. It's not about being flashy or perfect; it's about the feel, the observation. The way the light and shadow play on the mug's surface is captured through layers of pencil strokes, almost like a dance of light. You can almost feel the coolness of the metal, the weight of it in your hand. Look closely at the handle. The detail reminds me of the Art Nouveau movement, where everything, even functional objects, got a touch of grace and elegance. The linear marks aren't just lines; they're whispers of the artist’s hand. It reminds me a little of the work of Giorgio Morandi, who spent his life painting humble bottles and jars, finding endless variations in the simplest forms. Like Morandi, Duany reminds us to slow down, to really see. It’s like she’s saying, "Hey, even a mug can be a whole world." It's this ongoing conversation, across time, about how we look, what we see, and what we feel.