Decanter 1935 - 1942

John Dana rendered this decanter on paper in graphite and watercolor, and you can imagine him carefully observing the play of light and shadow on the glass. You can almost hear him thinking, "How do I make a drawing of something that is clear? How do I make something out of nothing?" It's like the object is there but not there, a ghost in the paper. I am imagining how Dana approached the subject, perhaps first establishing the basic shapes and proportions with light pencil lines, then slowly building up the tonal values with careful hatching and cross-hatching. Maybe, he built up the darks little by little, allowing the form to emerge from the paper. The simple color palette enhances the quiet mood of the drawing.