Chopping Knife c. 1940

Nicholas Amantea rendered this simple chopping knife with watercolor on paper. The muted palette and careful rendering give the object a sense of quiet dignity. Look closely, and you can see the rust and wear on the blade; each little mark tells a story. The handle, smooth and worn, speaks of countless hours of use. What I appreciate about this, is how the careful rendering of this everyday object transforms it into something profound. The artist elevates it, inviting us to contemplate the beauty in the mundane. There is a stillness in Amantea’s work that reminds me of Giorgio Morandi’s paintings of bottles and jars. Both artists find something essential in the simplicity of form. They show us how to see the world anew, one humble object at a time.