Pewter Porringer c. 1936

Charles Cullen made this drawing of a pewter porringer with graphite on paper. Looking at it, I imagine Cullen hunched over his table, squinting at the object, and then back at the page. The build up of tiny marks, the soft tonal gradations! The whole thing feels so painstaking. I bet he was chasing the light as it moved across the metal. It’s so hard to capture that reflective surface and get that sense of volume! I know I’ve tried to do it myself. Those subtle shadows inside the bowl – that's where the drawing really comes alive. And the little technical drawing down in the corner, with the measurements, tells me this isn't just about representation. It’s an investigation into form, an interrogation of the everyday. The best artists transform the ordinary, inspiring us to see the world in a new light. It is a humble, patient piece, I love it.