Cup c. 1937

This is Joseph Sudek’s drawing of a cup; it's simple, understated, and likely made with pencil and watercolor. It's got that feeling, where the everyday becomes extraordinary just by looking. The colors are muted, almost shy, but the subtle gradations give the cup a sense of volume. See how the delicate lines aren't trying to be perfect. There's a gentle wobbliness that makes it feel very human. My own painting process embraces this imperfect beauty! The cup is drawn with such care, like a portrait. The horizontal bands are interesting - they suggest a kind of framing within the drawing itself, a way of containing the form. And the little flourishes, like the handle, are just enough to give it character. It's like Sudek is saying, "Here is a cup, but it's also a moment, a feeling, a way of seeing." This reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes. Both artists find profound beauty in simple objects, elevating them through quiet contemplation. Like Morandi, Sudek reminds us that art isn't always about grand gestures; sometimes, it's about noticing the poetry in the everyday.