Muffin Pan c. 1940

Paul Poffinbarger made this drawing of a Muffin Pan, using what seems to be watercolor or colored pencil on paper. The whole thing is rendered in shades of brown, it’s all very matter-of-fact, and this straightforwardness is what makes it kind of endearing. I love the way the artist has built up the form of the muffin pan using tiny strokes and lines, as though the object has been coaxed into being through repetition. If you look closely at the individual muffin cups, you can see how the artist has varied the marks to suggest the play of light and shadow within each form. This creates a sense of depth and volume, even though the overall effect is quite flat and graphic. It reminds me of some of Morandi's still life paintings, where everyday objects are transformed through subtle variations of tone and color. It’s a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.