Shoe Blacking Bottle c. 1937

Charles Garjian made this Shoe Blacking Bottle sometime in the 20th century, with what looks like watercolor on paper. It’s such an unassuming and quiet picture. Look closely, and you can see the layering of semi-transparent washes, how the color pools in some areas to give depth and form. There’s something so beautifully direct about the way this bottle is painted; it's like Garjian is showing us that anything, even the most mundane object, is worthy of our attention. The shadow that grounds the bottle, the gentle curve of the glass; it all speaks to a thoughtful observation. The olive-green color gives it a kind of melancholy mood, like a Morandi still life. This work reminds me of Fairfield Porter's paintings, in that it finds something poetic in the everyday. Ultimately, art is about slowing down, looking closely, and discovering the hidden beauty that surrounds us. It’s about seeing the world in new ways and sharing that vision with others.