Creamer c. 1937

Giacinto Capelli made this drawing of a creamer sometime in the 20th century. There’s something so humble about this pale blue vessel against the buff of the paper; the quick lines are all business, rendered with a confident hand. The color here is a bit of a marvel. It's subtle, almost watery, as if the pigment was just barely coaxed into existence. Look closely at the handle; see how the blue pools and darkens at the edges, suggesting both form and light? The ridges of the creamer are described with simple parallel lines, a kind of shorthand for volume and texture. You can imagine the artist squinting, capturing the essence of the object rather than a photorealistic rendering. It feels almost like a diagram, a study of light and form reduced to its simplest elements. This drawing reminds me of Agnes Martin’s work, in that it shares that commitment to the handmade mark. Like Martin, Capelli seems to embrace imperfection as part of the process. This is not about flawless representation, but about seeing and feeling.