Silver Teaspoon c. 1936

David P. Willoughby created this pencil drawing, Silver Teaspoon, sometime in the 20th century. Look how softly Willoughby renders the spoons, and the way he models the forms with delicate, almost imperceptible lines. The spoons aren’t just presented as objects, but as studies in light and shadow. See how the light seems to shimmer and shift across their surfaces, especially on the spoon to the right, where light dances around the lettering. The physical texture of the pencil on paper creates a subtle, almost velvety surface, enhancing the tactile quality of the silverware. This piece reminds me of the quiet observations of Giorgio Morandi, who turned simple bottles into monumental studies of form and light. Willoughby, like Morandi, finds something profound in the everyday. Art isn't always about grand statements; sometimes, it's about noticing the quiet beauty in the simplest things.