Pa. German Shaving Basin 1937

Eugene Shellady made this painting of Pa. German Shaving Basins with what looks like watercolor or gouache, in 1937. What strikes me is the playful looseness of the lines. The color palette is earthy, ochres and browns, punctuated with dabs of green. You can almost feel Shellady circling the shapes with a brush, not too concerned with perfect replication. Look at the bottom basin; see how the paint is applied in thin washes, allowing the paper to breathe. The little floral motif in the center is rendered with such simplicity, a few strokes and blobs, yet it captures the essence of folk art. The top basin has these expressive, almost clumsy letters that frame the central decoration, which for me, inject a sense of humor into the work. The honesty of this piece reminds me of other self-taught artists like Bill Traylor. There’s a raw, unpretentious quality that invites you to appreciate the beauty in imperfection, a kind of art that whispers rather than shouts.