Cream Pitcher c. 1936

Nicholas Amantea made this brown ink drawing of a cream pitcher sometime in the 20th century. I'm wondering, did he have the cream pitcher in front of him? I can see him sitting at a table, carefully observing the ornate surface, trying to figure out how to translate a three-dimensional object into two dimensions. It's a real act of translation, a kind of puzzle. I imagine he probably had to edit a lot. The pitcher is brown, but the drawing is rendered in a light sepia wash. The handle juts out, inviting a pour. What would it be like to hold that handle? I think about the difference between art and design, between making something and using it. I see echoes of Morandi’s still life paintings here. He had that same humble focus. Looking at this piece I think about how everyday objects can become vehicles for contemplation. It's like the artist is saying, “Hey, look at this world around you!”