Currier's Shaving Knife c. 1940

Oscar Bluhme made this watercolour painting, entitled Currier's Shaving Knife, sometime in the twentieth century. There's a tenderness in the way he's rendered this everyday object. Bluhme coaxes surprising depth from what, at first glance, appears to be a limited palette. Look closer, and you will see how many shades he uses to create the effect of aging and decay on the blade. The overall effect is both detailed and dreamlike. The surface is smooth, but Bluhme allows small marks and gestures to show through, suggesting that the process of creation is as important as the final image. I particularly like the tiny figure using the oversized blade – is it a memory, a joke, or a premonition? The way Bluhme plays with scale and perspective is reminiscent of Magritte, who also celebrated the absurd in the mundane. Bluhme treats the painting with the same quiet respect as the worn tool, reminding us to appreciate the layers of history embedded in the things we often overlook.