Pewter Pan 1935 - 1942

Arsen Maralian’s "Pewter Pan" is a careful study in graphite on paper. Look at the way he’s built up the form with layers of tone, it's a testament to observation and also the making process. The pan's surface has a sheen, achieved through delicate gradations of light and shadow. The handle, so round and inviting, makes me think of a Brancusi sculpture, simple and reduced. Notice how Maralian uses the graphite to capture the subtle shifts in light, giving the pan a sense of weight and volume, especially where the base meets the pan. This drawing reminds me of the work of Giorgio Morandi, who also found endless inspiration in the mundane objects around him. But it also shows us how art is about seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world anew, all through a humble pewter pan.