Scissors c. 1936

Roberta Elvis's "Scissors" from 1936 is a detailed, realistic watercolor painting of a pair of antique scissors. Elvis, known for her meticulous still lifes, captures the worn, weathered texture of the metal in a way that elevates the mundane object to the level of fine art. The composition is simple but effective, showing the scissors from a slightly elevated perspective, with their blades open wide. The inclusion of a smaller drawing with the words "approximately actual size" highlights the artist's keen attention to detail and her focus on the object's physicality. The work is a testament to Elvis's ability to find beauty in the ordinary and to elevate everyday objects to the status of artistic subjects.