Pa. German Butter Mold c. 1938

Curator: Up next, we have “Pa. German Butter Mold,” a drawing rendered in pencil, watercolor, and charcoal, created around 1938 by Albert Levone. Editor: What a charming little sun! The circular composition gives me a feeling of warmth, like freshly baked bread or… well, clearly butter. It’s cozy and uncomplicated. Curator: You've keyed right into the heart of it. It's pure folk art, isn't it? Functional design elevated to something beautiful, something almost…symbolic. I mean, consider the radiating patterns—they echo themes found throughout decorative arts and hint at an abundant pantry. Editor: Yes, there is almost a rustic mandala effect created here with radial symmetry, especially noticeable with the juxtaposition of the wheat shafts. It certainly feels intentional beyond its use in butter. The color palette also really holds that grounded effect as well with neutral beige-like browns used in watercolour. It would be interesting to consider how its function influenced the materials here as well as the colour-story, don't you think? Curator: Absolutely! One could almost taste the richness implied in its depiction. Also, Levone, likely chose to represent it with common art mediums for sketching or practice like charcoal and watercolour. A humble choice that mirrors its own modest origins. There’s a wonderful honesty in that. Editor: Right? By employing simple aesthetics in the watercolor and sketching with an emphasis on clear, decisive lines, there is an approach to this piece which reflects exactly what it means for butter to be good; simplicity equals clarity, a perfect visual language! I think Levone has provided the viewer a wonderful lens for an item that they likely have no strong memory of to think about. Curator: Beautifully put! In observing everyday objects of art we allow their meaning to melt within us again.