Silver Teapot c. 1936

Michael Fenga made this silver teapot drawing with pencil on paper, but we don't know when. The gradations of shading, from light to dark, give it a photo-realistic quality. It’s almost uncanny how he's captured the reflective surface of the metal. I’m struck by the contrast between the precision of the drawing and the fluidity of the object. It’s like he's trying to capture something ephemeral, like light itself. Look at how he’s rendered the curves of the teapot, the way they swell and taper. It's all about surface, how light bounces and glides. There’s an echo of Giorgio Morandi in Fenga's work; both share a focus on everyday objects and an interest in subtle variations of tone. But Fenga’s teapot is more than just an object; it’s a study in light, form, and the sheer pleasure of looking. Art, like tea, is a process of transformation.