Bag 1935 - 1942

Here's a description of a bag, rendered in pencil and watercolor by Mary Berner, who lived from 1855 to 1995. Berner’s choice of humble materials is important here. Rather than carving in marble or casting in bronze, she used pencil and watercolor, more common in sketching and illustration. Consider the way that Berner has rendered this bag with such care, mimicking the textures and colors of the original object. The soft shades of the watercolor create a sense of depth and form, while the pencil lines define the details of the surface. We might ask what Berner’s relationship was to the object she depicted. Was this an item she owned, or perhaps one she admired? By recreating it in such detail, Berner elevates this everyday object to something worthy of artistic attention. This drawing encourages us to look closely at the world around us and recognize the value of the handmade, inviting us to reconsider the distinction between fine art and the art of everyday life.