Muffin Pan c. 1939

Maurice Van Felix created this drawing of a muffin pan using graphite on paper. The systematic, meticulous mark-making, with each line carefully laid, speaks to artmaking as a dedicated process. Look at how Van Felix renders the texture of the metal. It's not just a smooth surface; you can almost feel the rough, slightly pitted quality of the cast iron. The graphite is applied in layers, building up the shadows and highlights to create a convincing illusion of depth and form. The way each individual muffin cup is rendered with its own distinct play of light and shadow is really beautiful. It emphasizes the object's three-dimensionality. This drawing reminds me of the work of the American precisionist Charles Sheeler, who also found beauty in the mundane objects of industrial life. But where Sheeler’s work is hard-edged and crisp, Van Felix brings a softer, more tactile sensibility to his subject. Ultimately, art is about seeing the world in new ways, and Van Felix invites us to see the beauty in the everyday.