Elliptical Picture Frame 1935 - 1942

Helen McCollum, who lived from 1855 to 1995, made this 'Elliptical Picture Frame' with what looks like watercolours, creating a lovely, soft, focused image. I love the colour here, that deep, almost bruised red of the frame, and how the brushstrokes follow the curves, giving it a real sense of depth, of something solid. Look at the way McCollum suggests the carved details with just a few deft strokes, a little flick of the brush here and there. It's like she's not just painting a frame, but suggesting the idea of a frame, an idea of how it feels, and how we use it. It reminds me of some of Morandi’s still life paintings, especially in the way he captured the humble beauty of everyday objects. Both artists share this ability to find depth in the ordinary, turning something as simple as a frame or a bottle into a powerful, evocative image.