Coin Purse c. 1938

Ray Price, who lived a long life, made this drawing of a coin purse, with an eye for its interwoven structure. I imagine the act of painting it, building up the green and brown textures. The neat grid is so exact! I wonder if he enjoyed the discipline, or if it felt tedious? There is a delicacy to the colour. The eye lingers on the contrasting textures of the woven purse and the silver clasp, and I begin to feel that it is all soft and yielding. The metallic chains dangle, light as a feather, almost an afterthought. But is it? Nothing is accidental in a painting. Each little stroke is crucial. Price invites us to reflect on the artistry embedded in everyday objects. He makes us see the world anew. Artists riff off each other, across time and space. Each brushstroke adds to the ongoing conversation.