Servant's Bell 1935 - 1942

Manuel Runyan made this painting of a servant's bell, we're not sure exactly when, and it's painted on paper. The colours in this painting are earthy, like the bell itself has aged over time. I find Runyan's attention to texture particularly interesting. The metal looks like it has been outside in the elements, and the rendering on the bell is so lovely, it really feels like you could reach out and touch it. The mark making in the bell is thin and layered, it's almost like he's trying to capture the sound the bell makes. It reminds me of some of those Shaker paintings. They have this similar focus on the beauty of the mundane, everyday object. It's a quiet piece, and humble, it invites us to contemplate simple things.