Plate c. 1939

This plate was made by Giacinto Capelli, who lived a long life, from 1855 to 1995. Looking at the ochre and raw-umber washes that define the plate, I can imagine Capelli layering thin glazes, coaxing that metallic warmth from the paper. There’s such grace in the way the bird swoops across the plate's center, echoed by those stylized floral flourishes – they feel both ancient and utterly fresh. It makes me think about the countless craftspeople throughout history who’ve sought to elevate the everyday object into something beautiful. I mean, isn’t that what painting is all about, too? Taking something ordinary – canvas, pigment – and transforming it into a portal for feeling and thought. The way the transparency of the washes allows light to subtly play across the surface feels deeply connected to the alchemical spirit that drives so many artists. It makes you wonder, what other marvels did Capelli conjure in his lifetime?