Sconce c. 1937

Edward White made this watercolour painting of a sconce, but we're not sure exactly when. I love how the watercolor feels both precise and sort of dreamy here. The painting looks like it’s about a real object, but it also has a life of its own. What’s so interesting to me is the way the surface is built up with these thin washes of color, creating a soft, almost hazy effect, especially around the edges of the plate. See how the green seeps into the gold? The artist is describing the play of light on the metal, but you can also feel the hand of the artist, carefully layering and blending the colors. It makes me think about the tradition of still life painting and how artists use everyday objects to explore light, color, and form. Think Chardin, maybe? Or Morandi. It's a humble subject, but the painting elevates it.