Silver Tumbler c. 1937

Hester Duany made this gorgeous drawing of a "Silver Tumbler" sometime in the mid-twentieth century. It’s just pencil on paper, and the drawing captures the subtle highlights and the way the light reflects off its surface. I can imagine Duany being very focused, patiently building up the tones to create a convincing sense of depth. It’s a humble subject, a simple vessel, but there’s an undeniable care and precision in the way she has depicted it. The small diagram in the upper left corner of the paper is intriguing, with its clean lines and proportional measurements adding to the sense of meticulousness and thoughtful planning. You can tell it was important for Duany to get it just right. I think every artwork carries an echo of countless others, it’s like artists conversing across time. Duany reminds us to really look at things, to take joy in rendering a very ordinary object with beauty and precision.