Iron Pot and Pot Hooks c. 1937

Charles Goodwin's "Iron Pot and Pot Hooks" is a small rendering on paper, a quiet study of a commonplace object. The colors are earthy, a limited palette of browns and grays, skillfully blended to suggest the texture of aged iron. Goodwin builds up the form of the pot with layers of delicate shading. Close up, you can see the individual strokes of color, the subtle variations that bring the metal to life. It reminds me of Morandi, who could make a whole world out of muted tones. There’s a kind of reverence here, a sense of care in the way Goodwin observes the play of light on the pot’s surface. The way the shadow pools underneath the pot, grounding it in space, shows a real understanding of form. It's a simple subject, but it speaks to the beauty of everyday things, elevated through patient observation and skill.