Clear Glass Decanter c. 1937

Raymond Manupelli’s drawing of a clear glass decanter, made with graphite on paper, feels like a study in light and form. What I mean is, the process of artmaking—seeing, responding, adjusting—is laid bare. The drawing has this delicate, almost tentative quality. Look at the way Manupelli renders the vertical lines at the bottom of the decanter. They're not perfect, which gives the whole thing a kind of breathing room. It's like he's saying, "This is how I see it, right now." The careful shading around the stopper makes the glass shimmer, and even though it's just graphite on paper, you almost feel like you could reach out and touch it. There’s an echo here of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, where everyday objects become these monumental, almost spiritual forms. Both artists remind us that art is about more than just representation; it's about seeing and feeling the world in a different way.