Old Book, "Life of Wesley" c. 1936

Magnus Fossum made this object, "Old Book, 'Life of Wesley'", with paint on paper. I love the way the brushstrokes build up the form of the book, almost like you could reach out and feel the texture of the aged leather. The colour palette is very tonal, mainly browns and creams, giving it a kind of muted, historical feel. Look at the way the light hits the spine and the top edge of the book; you can almost feel the weight of it. The paper cover sheet floats above, slightly translucent, a trace of history almost fading away. That signature in the corner is such a delicate touch, like a whisper from the artist himself. It makes me think of other artists who capture everyday objects with such care and reverence, like Giorgio Morandi, who painted bottles over and over. Fossum, like Morandi, reminds us that even the most ordinary things can be beautiful if we take the time to really see them. It's a reminder that art is always in conversation with what came before.