Bread Tray 1935 - 1942

Here's Mildred Ford's "Bread Tray" where you can see the original object was 11 1/2" long, 7 1/4" wide, and 2 7/16" high. This tray, rendered in gouache and graphite, seems to float. Look closely at the scumble of red, the way it’s been applied and worn away, like a favourite object lovingly and frequently used. I can almost feel the coolness of the metal, its slight texture beneath my fingers. The artist has taken the time to carefully depict the floral motifs, capturing the essence of each bloom with a delicate touch. There's a sense of playfulness here, a joy in observation and translation. Maybe Ford was inspired by Pennsylvania folk art traditions like fraktur or reverse painting on glass. It makes me think about how paintings are like these little acts of translation and interpretation. Each artist takes what they see, what they feel, and turns it into something new, contributing to this amazing conversation across generations.