Pa. German Chest c. 1938

Betty Jean Davis made this Pa. German Chest sometime between 1855 and 1995, and it looks like it was made with watercolour on paper. There's something so intimate about the way the image is put together, almost like you're right there in the maker's space. Look at how Davis builds up the surface with gentle layers of color. The paint isn't trying to hide anything. You can almost feel the texture of the wood, the slight variations in tone, and the hand-painted motifs. Then there are these amazing details, like the inscription in the middle panel surrounded by a heart. It's not perfect, but that’s what makes it so appealing. The little imperfections and the obvious signs of handcrafting let you know a person was involved, and I love that. This reminds me a lot of other painters working today like, say, Chris Ofili, because the work’s impact comes from the artist’s relationship with material and process, reminding us that art is a conversation across time.