Pa. German Birth Certificate (Waltman #3) c. 1940

This fraktur painting, or birth certificate, was made by Emma Krumrine, a Pennsylvania German folk artist. The muted reds, greens and yellows are applied directly and simply. It’s artmaking as a form of record, a way of documenting and celebrating a life event. Looking closely, I can see the paper has a soft, absorbent quality, which gives the colors a slightly faded appearance. Krumrine’s brushstrokes are unblended, almost childlike, creating flat shapes and outlines. See how the hearts, birds, and tulips are rendered with a direct, earnest quality. The hand-lettered German script at the center is decorative, with flourishes that give it a calligraphic feel. Consider the way the script nestles within the larger heart shape, binding text and image together in this lovely composition. Krumrine's work reminds me of other self-taught artists like Bill Traylor, who also used simple means to create deeply personal and expressive imagery. Art, here, becomes an intimate form of communication, a heartfelt message inscribed with care.