Wash Bowl and Pitcher c. 1953

Frank Fumagalli made this drawing of a wash bowl and pitcher sometime between 1855 and 1995. You know, looking at the soft grey washes of the bowl, I feel like I can see Fumagalli really thinking through the form of the object. I imagine him circling the subject, adding thin layer after thin layer of graphite, trying to get it just right. The slight imperfections in the surface are really beautiful. Those little fissures make the piece feel handmade and imperfect. It’s a reminder that even the most mundane objects can be a source of beauty and contemplation. Like Morandi’s bottles, this wash bowl and pitcher is elevated through the attentive, quiet observation of the artist. These artists, whether they know it or not, are having a conversation with each other! We can see how the simplest forms can hold infinite possibilities for seeing and thinking.