Pa. German Bowl c. 1938

Alvin Shiren made this Pa. German Bowl with what looks like watercolour. It's a painting of a physical object, so already there is a flattening of form from 3D to 2D, but it is also a painting of something made by hand so there is a sense of the process twice over. The palette is earthy, warm and limited, maybe some burnt sienna and raw umber tones with a creamy ground. The triangles around the lid and base remind me of the decoration on a pueblo pot, or the work of Emma Kunz. I love the way Shiren has described the rope handles, they look tactile. And the lid? Well, it’s so round and neat, it reminds me of one of those vintage Bakelite powder compacts. The slightly faded colour scheme is restful and soothing. It suggests an object of daily use, something warm and familiar from a home. It feels like it's whispering secrets, all cosy and contained.