Glass Container 1935 - 1942

This pastel drawing of a glass container was made by S. Brodsky, who lived a long life, from 1855 to 1995. Look closely at the artist’s hand as it moved with the pastel stick, coaxing out this elegant form. Brodsky makes marks that delineate the shape and volume of the container, playing with light and shadow to bring it into being. I can imagine them, squinting their eyes to see the subtle gradations of tone. There's something really beautiful about the choice of color. This soft, translucent blue evokes the airy quality of glass, while the purplish shadows give the container weight. You can feel the artist grappling with the challenge of representing a transparent object, of capturing the way light bends and reflects. This drawing reminds me of the quiet, everyday moments that can spark creative inspiration. Like, what could you put in it? It makes me want to go home and draw something I see every day, and in doing so see the world anew.