Canister 1935 - 1942

Marie Famularo made this striking image of a canister, sometime in the middle of the 20th century. Look closely at the way she renders the object, with its slightly rusted surface, adorned with folk-art motifs: flowers, berries and a lovely bird. I can almost feel Famularo’s hand at work. The brushstrokes are so intimate. I wonder, was she trying to show us the beauty in everyday objects? Was she thinking about the history of the canister, or was she more interested in the play of light and shadow on its surface? The way she used the paint is also interesting. It’s not too thick, but it’s not too thin either. There’s a certain roughness to the surface that gives the painting a real presence. It reminds me of the work of other folk artists, who were also interested in finding beauty in the ordinary. It feels so personal! Ultimately, it’s up to us to decide what the painting means. That's the fun part, right?