Strainer with Funnel c. 1936

Here, in this drawing, Yolande Delasser, who lived an impressively long life, gives us a strainer and funnel rendered in pencil. You can see Delasser enjoyed the process of close observation and intricate mark-making. I love the way the graphite is layered to create a subtle range of grays, suggesting the cool, metallic surfaces of these humble kitchen tools. Look at the dense cross-hatching on the funnel, giving it weight and volume, then notice the gentle, blurred shadows that ground the objects on the page. The texture is almost palpable; I can practically feel the smooth, hard surface of the metal. The whole is constructed from tiny marks, a network of delicate lines. It reminds me a little of Morandi's still lifes, where simple, everyday objects are elevated through careful attention and quiet contemplation. Both artists invite us to slow down and really look, to find beauty in the mundane, and to appreciate the power of art to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.