Silver Mug c. 1937

Aaron Fastovsky made this drawing of a silver mug in graphite on paper, though we don't know exactly when. The pencil marks are really clear. You can see how he methodically built up the tones to give the mug its sheen and form. It's like he's really trying to figure out how to capture the way light bounces off metal, that's so cool. Up close, notice how the graphite isn’t perfectly smooth, but kind of grainy. It’s like he's mapping the tiny imperfections of the metal itself, you know? The handle is particularly charming, with its little flourishes. It's slightly wonky and asymmetrical, which gives it a kind of quirky personality. I see echoes of Giorgio Morandi in Fastovsky's attention to humble, everyday objects. Like Morandi, he finds endless fascination in exploring the subtle variations of light and form, transforming a simple mug into something really captivating. I love how art can do that!