Silver Wine Taster c. 1936

Horace Reina's "Silver Wine Taster" emerges from delicate pencil strokes on paper, like a silversmith's dream taking shape. I can imagine Reina hunched over this drawing, each line a meditation on form and function. The gentle gradations of silver, achieved through subtle shading, give the cup a luminous quality. Those handles! They curl with a playful elegance, as if inviting you to lift the cup and toast to the beauty of craftsmanship. It makes me think about other artists who obsess over detail, like Durer with his meticulous engravings. There's a similar reverence for the object, a desire to capture its essence through careful observation and skillful execution. Ultimately, this drawing is a testament to the power of art to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary, to elevate a simple wine taster into an object of contemplation and delight. Artists are always borrowing, paying homage, and pushing boundaries, contributing to an ongoing dialogue.