Popcorn Popper c. 1940

Oscar Bluhme painted this “Popcorn Popper” with watercolor. Just imagine Bluhme setting up his still life, probably in his kitchen, focusing on this humble everyday object. The whole thing is rendered in a limited palette of browns, greys, and creams, creating a sense of quietness. I wonder what he thought about as he was painting. See how he meticulously rendered the different textures of the metal, from the dull sheen of the base to the worn handle of the crank. Each detail tells a story. It's so tender. You know, the way a painter lingers over an object can turn the mundane into something profound. He shares an interest with other painters who elevate ordinary objects, like Manet, Morandi, or even Wayne Thiebaud. And in the end, that is what painting can do; it can open a space of imagination, where a simple popcorn popper can become a source of endless fascination.