Silver Dish c. 1936

This pencil drawing of a silver dish was made by Clayton Braun, and well, it's hard to say exactly when, but sometime between 1855 and 1995. The soft gradations are so compelling; it's an image built up from countless tiny marks. See how the light seems to glow from within the dish, created by the density of graphite? It makes me think about the quiet, repetitive processes that shape our lives, almost like a form of meditation, perhaps even akin to how Agnes Martin approached painting. The drawing itself is a testament to time and labor. The texture is smooth, almost velvety, achieved through careful layering and blending. It's this meticulousness that gives the object its presence, its sense of weight and form. Much like a Morandi, there is a sense of humble beauty in the everyday.