Ring c. 1936

Kurt Melzer’s rendering of a ring, made with watercolor, is like a proposal. You can see the ring from three angles. It’s like Melzer is saying, “here, look at this!” I imagine Melzer, hunched over his desk, carefully applying each wash of color, trying to capture the glint of the jewels and the warmth of the gold. He wants to convey the beauty and allure of the object. The transparency of the watercolor gives the ring a delicate, ethereal quality. The thin washes of color create a sense of depth and dimension. Look at how he uses light and shadow to suggest the form of the ring, and the texture of the metal. You can almost feel the coolness of the stones against your skin. It is a very skillful image that makes you want to see the real ring. Melzer's little painting reminds me that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places, and that even the most humble object can be elevated to art through careful observation and skillful execution.