Pa. German Birth Certificate c. 1939

This Pa. German Birth Certificate was made by John Wilkes sometime between 1600 and 1700, a delicate dance of ink and watercolor on paper. I can almost feel the artist at work, carefully building up these layers of colors, meticulously outlining the central heart motif and lettering. What was Wilkes thinking when he created this? I see a world of symbolic meaning embedded in the simple shapes and colors. The concentric bands of the heart seem to echo sentiments of love and protection. I imagine Wilkes working in a small room, surrounded by his tools and materials, perhaps humming a tune as he worked on this gift of love. The limited color palette of red, blue, and yellow gives this piece a wonderful sense of harmony and balance. The little flowers in pots are charming, almost cartoon-like, and yet they convey a real sense of care and tenderness. This piece reminds me that art is an ongoing conversation across time, a testament to how we artists inspire each other to create, interpret, and celebrate life.