Ink Bottle c. 1936

Frank Fumagalli made this drawing of an ink bottle, we don’t know when, using watercolor and graphite. What I find fascinating here is the way he's built up these earthen tones, layering them to give this sense of roundness to the form. It’s so subtle and gentle, really, like he’s coaxing the shape into existence rather than just outlining it. The surface has a beautiful soft texture and those colors make me think of clay. There’s a mark, almost like a thumbprint, on the body of the bottle. Is it accidental or intentional? I love that it’s slightly off-center, a little bit awkward. It brings a human touch to this very simple object. Fumagalli’s method reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi, who made quiet paintings of bottles. But in a way this is more direct, without the same concern for high art. Both artists teach us to look closely at the everyday and discover the beauty in the most unassuming things.