Cradle c. 1938

Rex F. Bush painted "Cradle" with watercolor and graphite on paper. You can see the love and care that went into the tiny details here. I can imagine Bush carefully drawing each line, trying to capture the exact shape and shadow of the wood. Did he make this piece from memory, or was the cradle right there in front of him? There is such tenderness in the depiction of the dark red wood, in the precision of the vertical bars, and in the soft, dreamy background. The green rings add this extra something, making it feel like a jewel. The way Bush handled the paint is meticulous, and the whole thing feels like a little world unto itself. It reminds me of other artists who pour their hearts into everyday objects, elevating them to something precious and meaningful. It makes you think about how, as painters, we're all in conversation with each other, each adding our own voice to the mix, dreaming of what could be.