Powder Horn c. 1936

Vincent Murphy made this watercolor drawing of a powder horn sometime between 1855 and 1995. The warm browns and golds give it a comforting glow, like an old photograph brought to life. It’s rendered with such care, you can almost feel the texture of the tooled leather. Look at how Murphy used tiny strokes to build up the form of the horn, layering tones to create depth and shadow. This isn't just a picture, it's a translation of an object into a feeling. The soft, mottled surface gives it a kind of dreamlike quality. I keep coming back to the etched image of the animal, a strong, bold figure amidst the fine detail. It reminds me a bit of Charles Demuth’s precisionist watercolors, but with a folksier, more personal touch. It’s art as conversation, echoing across time. Ultimately, it's the quiet hum of the drawing, its gentle presence, that makes it so compelling.