Bootjack 1935 - 1942

Isabelle De Strange made this painting of a Bootjack using what looks like watercolor paint. What I notice is the way the artist has carefully observed the wood grain, the subtle shifts in tone. The paint is applied in thin washes, building up layers of color to create depth and form. I imagine De Strange, carefully mixing her paints, patiently layering the washes, letting the paper peek through in places. It's like she's trying to understand the object, not just represent it. The painting is quiet, contemplative. It's almost like she's having a conversation with the bootjack, asking it questions about its history, its purpose, its very being. It makes me think about other artists who find beauty in the everyday, like Giorgio Morandi with his still lifes of bottles and jars. Artists, you know, we're always talking to each other, across time, across mediums. We're all just trying to make sense of the world in our own way.