Chopping Knife c. 1941

Nicholas Amantea made this drawing of a chopping knife out of what looks like watercolor on paper. I love the simplicity of the muted tones; it feels so unassuming, yet there's something deeply satisfying in its directness. The way Amantea captures the texture of the rusty blade is fascinating. The brown is built up in layers, almost pointillist, giving it a rough, tactile quality. The wooden handle is smoother, rendered with delicate strokes that mimic the grain. The contrast between these textures is what really grabs me. It’s not just a picture of a knife; it’s about the feeling of holding it, the weight and the history embedded in the object. It reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi’s still-lifes, in the way it elevates the everyday to something almost monumental. It’s like Amantea is saying, look closer, there's beauty and complexity in the simplest of things.