Trade Beads c. 1936

Walter Praefke made this drawing of ‘Trade Beads’ with what looks like watercolour on paper. Imagine Walter sitting there with his watercolours trying to capture each bead with precision. The drawing feels intimate, like a quiet observation of everyday objects. You can see the delicate variations in colour and texture, and the way the beads reflect light. Maybe he picked these beads up at a fair, or maybe they were a gift. You know, painting something like this is an act of love, right? Each bead contains so much history, both as an object and as something depicted by another person. As I look at it, I think about Morandi, and his paintings of bottles. He kept painting the same bottles over and over again, almost like he was getting to know them. It feels similar here, as Walter, through this drawing, is attempting to get to know these beads.