Silver Teapot c. 1936

Curator: This is Giacinto Capelli's "Silver Teapot," created around 1936. He rendered it meticulously in pencil. Editor: It's lovely—so unassuming, but the precision creates a quiet intensity. Almost hyperreal, even though it’s just pencil on paper. Curator: Capelli was working in a period fascinated by domestic objects, often elevating them to symbols of order and bourgeois stability, particularly during interwar Europe. Editor: You can really see the hand at work here. The subtle variations in shading, how the pencil reflects light differently depending on the angle, emphasizes materiality and craftsmanship over the object’s functional purpose. Was Capelli interested in commercial applications of his draughtsmanship? Curator: His primary focus was realism and capturing the effects of light, showcasing mastery of his technique, especially working during an era with increasing debates around art’s role and artistic institutions in a time of social upheaval. Editor: Right, there is the silver, the specific use of that metal in the handle—it all implies social stratification of labor, a specific class elevation that can seem very remote. But looking closely at the rendering—so subtle in tone—this feels less about showing and more about careful seeing. Curator: Do you mean a critique of the culture and conditions through subtle observations? It would tie in with other realist explorations in the interwar era where still life gained attention because it stood apart from increasingly monumental sculptures made for propagandist reasons. Editor: Exactly! Capelli transformed an everyday object into something that encourages us to see beyond its surface, pushing beyond what is expected to convey meaning, focusing on labor through precision. I notice how he made it by hand with readily available, cheap materials. This drawing speaks volumes. Curator: I agree. It speaks quietly, like the drawing room conversation where this teapot may once have been present. Editor: Exactly, transforming our gaze and perspective. It is fascinating how simple acts can encourage careful observations.