Kettle with Spoon c. 1935

Benjamin Resnick made this drawing of a kettle with a spoon, we don’t know exactly when, but it gives the impression of quiet observation. The pencil marks build up the image in slow, careful layers, which is kinda how I approach a painting, too: thinking through the process of depiction itself. The texture Resnick creates with the pencil is so subtle, almost metallic, giving the kettle a real weight. Look closely, and you can see the light reflecting off the curved surface. The spoon resting inside casts a soft shadow, hinting at the emptiness within. It’s like Resnick wants us to feel the coolness of the metal, the potential of the kettle, the stillness of the scene. That thin line trailing down the kettle, is that a crack, or just a shadow? This drawing reminds me a bit of Morandi’s still lifes, that same dedication to simple, everyday objects. Art isn’t always about grand gestures; sometimes, it’s about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. And I think Resnick does exactly that.