Sword and Scabbard 1935 - 1942

This small painting of a Civil War sword and scabbard, probably made in the 19th century with watercolor or gouache, has such a quiet, muted palette. Just imagine the painter, maybe an amateur with no expectations, carefully studying the objects, noting the gleam of the metal and the dullness of the wood. You can tell the artist struggled with how to represent the three-dimensional forms, getting the light and shadow just right. There are subtle variations in tone and color, especially in the blade. It looks like they were trying to capture the way light glints off the metal surface. There’s so much looking in this picture; a conversation between looking and painting. It’s fascinating how everyday objects become the subject for painting, each artist teaching the next how to see, how to translate the world around us into the language of art.