Trunk c. 1938

Here is Regina Henderer's watercolor painting of a trunk. I wonder how the artist felt, trying to get the leather straps just right, and the wood grain, the play of light? I can imagine Henderer being really precise and controlled in her artistic method, carefully observing all those details and making a faithful record. Painting is such a generous act, an exchange of ideas that goes on for centuries. You can see how artists working today are in constant dialogue with the art and artists of the past, inspiring one another's creativity, reaching out and borrowing ideas. It can be a way of showing respect or of answering back. In the end, painting embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations. It's not fixed or definitive, but alive with possibilities.