Bell c. 1937

Harry Grossen made this painting of a bell, we don’t know exactly when, using watercolor and graphite on paper. I like the directness of it. It's a simple rendering, but it has a real presence. The bell itself is a study in texture and light. The artist plays with the sheen of the metal, that gradient of almost pearly light through the grey, indicating the bell’s rounded form. The fleur-de-lis and those little bands circling the bell’s form are so meticulously rendered. The whole composition is bathed in this muted, almost ghostly palette. It’s as if Grossen is trying to capture not just the bell's physical form, but also its sound. It reminds me of the work of Charles Sheeler, who also painted industrial objects and architectural forms with precision and clarity. It’s an interesting reflection on how we see and experience the objects that surround us. What do bells mean to you?