Powder Horn c. 1938

Edward L. Loper painted this 'Powder Horn' using what looks like watercolor or gouache, a technique that allows for precision and detail but also some nice luminous effects. I imagine Loper, bending over the paper, carefully rendering the subtle gradations of light and shadow on the horn’s surface. What was he thinking about as he worked? Maybe the history of this object, its original maker and owner, and the stories it could tell about the past. See how the horn itself is decorated with geometric patterns and what looks like inlaid stars. These shapes are not just decorative, they’re little glyphs and abstract forms. The painting seems to want us to consider the relationship between representation and abstraction, tradition and individual expression. It reminds me that artists are in a constant dialogue, building on what came before while also pushing toward something new.