Gardener's Gloves and Shears 1937

Marsden Hartley’s “Gardener’s Gloves and Shears” is a still life painting from 1937. The painting is composed of simple objects, rendered in bold, expressive strokes. The artist utilizes the juxtaposition of the two gardening tools, a pair of gloves and shears, in order to emphasize their symbolic significance. The gloves are depicted as being worn and slightly tattered, while the shears appear sharp and ready for use. This contrast may represent the duality of nature, both beautiful and dangerous. The painting’s dark background helps emphasize the light and dark tones of the objects and creates a sense of depth and mystery.