Sailor's Sewing Kit c. 1938

Samuel Faigin painted these two views of a Sailor's Sewing Kit, sometime between 1855 and 1995, using watercolour and graphite on paper. What strikes me is the rendering of something so functional with such care. You can really sense Faigin’s enjoyment of the process. The colour palette is muted, browns and tans, echoing the materiality of the original object, and you can see his hand in the delicate rendering of the light playing across the surface of the wood. Up close, the graphite lines give a real sense of texture, emphasising the carved details. Look at the top of the lower kit, the way the lines are built up to create these geometric patterns, it reminds me of folk art, perhaps even nautical tattoos. Faigin’s decision to depict this object with such attention elevates it beyond its utilitarian function, prompting reflection on the everyday and its significance. It makes me think of Agnes Martin, finding the sublime in the simple grid. Art is always a conversation, isn't it?