Patch Box from Ky. Rifle c. 1938

Albert Levone made this drawing of a Patch Box from Ky. Rifle, sometime between 1855 and 1995, using what looks like watercolour and pencil. It’s the kind of drawing that celebrates process. There’s a feeling that we’re seeing not just an object, but how that object comes to life through observation and mark-making. The almost-metallic palette is striking, using thin layers of translucent paint to evoke the sheen of burnished metal. The artist's hand is really visible here; each line, each curve, feels thoughtfully placed but not overly precious. Take a look at the way the flourishes on either side kind of mimic each other, like mirror images—but with subtle variations that give the whole thing a lively, organic feel. The dark outline suggests the influence of graphic art. This piece reminds me a bit of the drawings of Cy Twombly, in that it’s more about gesture and line than photographic realism. Levone’s work invites us to embrace the beauty of imperfection and the joy of artmaking itself.