Silver Sauce Boat c. 1936

Giacinto Capelli made this drawing of a silver sauce boat, and looking at it I imagine him, pencil in hand, carefully mapping out the light as it reflects off the metal. I wonder if Capelli thought of himself as an artist? Maybe he was more of a craftsman, carefully rendering each curve and flourish. The seashell feet and ornate handle, it’s as if each line is a little caress, isn’t it? You can almost feel the coolness of the silver and the weight of the object in your hand. It reminds me of the drawings of Agnes Martin - the care, the control, and the devotion! There’s something so tender about this quiet study. It speaks to a different era, a different way of seeing the world and also relates to a long art history of artists drawing objects, and other artists drawings, too. Artists are always looking.