Sugar Bowl c. 1936

Albert Eyth's "Sugar Bowl" is made with graphite, and watercolor on paper. I wonder if this was an exercise in control for Eyth? The horizontal lines and the measured drawing below give a very specific technical drawing vibe. But then, look at that purple! It’s more organic, more free. I can imagine Eyth thinking about the vessel in front of them, but also thinking about other patterns, other colours, and letting the drawing take on a life of its own. It makes me think of Agnes Martin, in a way. She also used a grid structure, but then added very subtle colors that disrupted any sense of perfect alignment. It becomes more about feeling, more about being human. It reminds me that even something as functional as a sugar bowl can be a space for art, a space to explore the messy business of being alive.