Spoon Holder c. 1939

May Hays made this drawing of a spoon holder with pencil on paper. It shows two views of a glass; each is adorned with a bird sitting amongst branches. I wonder about the story behind the spoon holder itself. Was it a cherished object, a family heirloom perhaps? Hays captures the light reflecting off the glass with delicate lines, creating a sense of transparency and depth. You can see how the pencil moves so delicately across the page, searching to represent the play of light on the curved surface. These marks create more than just the outline of a glass. They offer a glimpse into Hays's observation and interpretation, like a conversation between the artist, the object, and the viewer. Artists, whether they know it or not, are always having conversations with each other across time. The simple lines open a space of imagination. You can imagine how the glass feels in your own hand.