Key Basket c. 1941

Renee Monfalcone's 'Key Basket' appears to be made with watercolor on paper, and feels like an intimate observation rendered with gentle precision. I imagine Renee carefully mixing her paints, adjusting the tones to capture the subtle sheen of the leather and the soft glow of the inner lining. The way the lines trace the basket's form is striking, almost like a map of a familiar object. What was it like for her to consider every stitch and shadow? I feel like she’s teaching me how to see. The texture of the handle makes me wonder how it would feel in my hand. It reminds me of other artists who find beauty in everyday things, like Morandi and his bottles, or Fairfield Porter's interiors. There is something universal in the way artists pick up on each other’s cues. We are all having an extended conversation across time, learning from one another. Paintings like this show how ordinary objects can become extraordinary through the act of looking, thinking, and feeling.