Brooch c. 1937

This watercolor of three brooches was made by John H. Tercuzzi, who lived from 1855 to 1995. I imagine him carefully brushing diluted pigment onto paper to realize these golden jewelry forms. The brooches are rendered with such detail, you can almost feel the smoothness of the metal and the sparkle of the jewels. Tercuzzi has presented them like specimens, pinned in place for our inspection. He’s included a view of the pin, which gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the object’s construction, as if to demystify its beauty. I think about the tradition of artisans using drawings to communicate design ideas to their patrons and workshop staff. Tercuzzi’s brooches remind me that making art is always a conversation between people, materials, and ideas. We are all inspired by each other's creativity across time, and these drawings are part of that story.