Plate 1935 - 1942

Samuel Faigin made this plate with Franklin's proverbs at an unknown date. It’s rendered in watercolor, ink and graphite on paper. Look at how the scene is framed, the proverb and the plate itself! I imagine Faigin, deeply immersed in Franklin’s wisdom, carefully outlining each letter with a steady hand. He brings the proverb to life! What was he thinking as he painted these landscapes, framing the wisdom in the gentle scenes? There's something so earnest about the way the colors are applied, thin washes of blue and green. It’s not unlike the way folk artists like Henry Darger built their imaginative worlds, each one reflecting the artist’s inner life, their values, and their vision. What I see in this plate is a reminder that all artists are participating in a larger conversation, drawing from one another across time.