Muffin Pan c. 1939

Maurice Van Felix drew this muffin pan with graphite on paper. And I think, what a quiet joy it must have been to create such a mundane item! I can imagine the artist, bent over the paper, squinting at the light reflecting off the metal. And then, the slow, repetitive act of shading each little muffin cup, one by one. It's like a meditation. The graphite creates a soft, almost velvety texture. See how each form emerges from the subtle gradations of tone, creating a sense of depth and volume? The artist must have savored the simple beauty of this everyday object, elevating it to something worthy of contemplation. It reminds me that there is beauty to be found in the most ordinary things, if only we take the time to look. I bet Van Felix made some amazing muffins too, afterwards!