Coffee Grinder c. 1939

D.J. Grant made this lovely watercolor of a coffee grinder sometime in the 20th century. The color here is so subtle, it’s like the ghost of coffee itself. There's a real focus on the texture of the wood, the artist really digs into the granular details. Look at the base of the grinder, the way it catches the light. The brown on cream feels nostalgic, sepia-toned, like an old photograph. I love the way the artist renders the metal parts, that little glint on the handle, the screw at the top. It reminds me of the precision of an Ingres drawing, even though the subject matter is so humble. There's a real care and attention here, a reverence for the everyday object. It reminds me of the Shaker commitment to beauty in simple things, a celebration of functionality. It makes you think about where things come from.