Earrings c. 1937

Tulita Westfall created this watercolor painting on paper, depicting ornate gold earrings. The artist has painstakingly rendered the intricate details of each piece; the filigree work and granulation, a complex and laborious technique where tiny metal beads are fused to the surface. Looking at the artwork, you can almost feel the heaviness of the gold, the smooth, cool touch of the metal against skin. The use of precious materials like gold speaks to the social status and wealth of the wearer. But it also reflects the labor involved in extracting the raw materials, and the skill required to transform them into objects of beauty. These earrings represent the artist's ability to elevate the techniques of goldsmithing to fine art. Westfall asks us to consider the value we place on both the artistry and the material, challenging us to look beyond the preciousness of gold, and consider the traditions of craft and skill that elevate these materials into art.