Brooch c. 1936

This is Marie Mitchell's rendering of a brooch, and when I look at it, I think, what a delicate thing to bring into the world with just a pencil and some light washes. I imagine her, maybe at a simple desk, carefully mapping out this design, one line and one color at a time. And look at the details: that golden hue and the tiny flowers blooming across its surface. It's like she's breathing life into metal, turning something rigid into something soft. I wonder if she imagined the person who might wear this – what they would be like. What would make them choose this particular piece of artistry to adorn their clothes? Painting and drawing, they’re not just about what you see. It’s about how you see. And how what you see makes you feel and keeps you imagining. Artists like Marie, they're having a dialogue with all of us, across time.