Shaker Cedar Basket 1935 - 1942

Edward D. Williams painted this Shaker Cedar Basket, sometime between 1855 and 1995, using what looks like watercolor. Just looking at the way the different planks are constructed, you can see how the artist has patiently layered the paint to slowly evoke the subtle gradations in tone and texture. This gives the basket its roundness and three-dimensional form. I wonder, how long did it take him to do all that fine work? Did he have to go back and correct, or was it done in one fell swoop? I can see him, bent over the paper with a tiny brush in hand, lovingly rendering each and every little detail. The ochre straps really pop against the deeper hues of the cedar, don’t they? There’s something so satisfying in this work! There’s a long tradition of painters depicting simple, everyday objects, and in a way, Williams is participating in that conversation across time. I love the way this painting is both utilitarian and beautiful. It's about how simple things can be profound.