Saddle 1935 - 1942

Rose Campbell-Gerke made this saddle, which is a little over a foot tall, out of watercolor and graphite. I’m immediately drawn to the interplay of delicate linework and the soft, muted palette. The colors are washed out like an old photograph. It feels almost like a memory. Look closely at the details. See how the artist emphasizes the tactile quality of the leather through subtle shading and highlights. The precision of the graphite underscores the beauty of the saddle’s form. Notice how Campbell-Gerke creates a visual story, and how the piece is balanced between ornamentation and function. You can see the spirit of someone like Hilma af Klint in the way she uses symbolism and pattern. Ultimately, art is about visual conversation, and "Saddle" speaks to a rich history of artists exploring the boundaries between representation and abstraction.