Suffolk Latch c. 1939

Regina Henderer made this painting of a Suffolk Latch, with what looks like watercolor, sometime in the 20th century. I love the idea of taking something so functional, so utilitarian, and rendering it with such care. It makes you think about the care that went into the original object. The color palette is all earth tones, variations on browns and tans, which is very subtle. You can really see the rust and wear of the metal that Henderer must have studied closely. The way she's layered the color in that curlicue on the top right is beautiful, you can almost feel the texture of the metal. It’s amazing how much detail she's captured with such a delicate medium. It reminds me a little of those Shaker paintings of everyday objects, there's a similar sense of reverence, like elevating the mundane to something almost spiritual. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be about grand gestures. Sometimes, it's about looking closely at the things around us and finding the beauty in the ordinary.