Silver Teapot c. 1936

Hester Duany rendered this silver teapot in graphite. The soft gradations of grey create the illusion of a reflective surface. You can almost feel the cool smoothness of the metal, and that dark handle really does invite you to reach out and pour a cup. I wonder what Duany was thinking as she meticulously shaded each curve and edge. Did she feel like she was chasing its essence? Was she thinking about who might one day use the pot? Or maybe, she was just reveling in the pure, simple act of seeing and rendering. The quiet quality of the drawing resonates with a tradition of still life painting – from Chardin to Morandi – that finds profundity in the everyday. Each mark is evidence of her interaction with the object, a conversation between hand, eye, and teapot.