Decanter c. 1937

Francis Law Durand made this drawing of a decanter, probably with graphite on paper. It is almost a ghostly vision. The image seems to emerge with great care, revealing all the facets of the glass object. I imagine Durand thinking carefully about how to render each line to get the most precise image of a decanter, the kind of drawing that glassmakers and designers make as they work out their designs. I feel like there's a quiet tension here, between the desire for exactitude and the ephemeral quality of the medium. You know, the way graphite reflects light and leaves traces on the paper, it’s similar to the way glass distorts light and casts shadows. I admire how Durand's lines can capture the essence of the decanter. It makes me wonder about all the unseen drafts and studies that led to this final image. Art-making is an ongoing conversation, across time, inspiring creativity and revealing different ways of seeing the world.