Inkwell c. 1936

Frank Fumagalli made this watercolor of an Inkwell, sometime between 1855 and 1995, we don’t have an exact date. The first thing that hits you is the color, this kind of muted palette. It’s as if Fumagalli is embracing the imperfection of things, finding beauty in the understated. Look at the way the watercolor bleeds into the paper, creating these soft, hazy edges. You can tell that it’s about process; letting the paint do its thing. The texture is smooth but you can see the little inconsistencies, which suggest time and use. The dark smudges on the top give this inkwell a history, maybe a story. I love the detail on the label around the middle, it makes you wonder what kind of ink went in here and who was using it? It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's still life paintings, the way he could make the ordinary look so profound. Isn’t it wild how someone can take something as simple as an inkwell and turn it into something so thought-provoking?