Coffee Mill 1935 - 1942

Frank C. Barks made this unnamed ‘Coffee Mill’ watercolor on paper sometime in the 20th century. I love the way Barks zeroes in on the object, as if it were a portrait of a person. The crisp lines and precise rendering remind me of technical drawings, but there's also a tender quality here. The way the metallic surfaces reflect light, and the worn texture of the wood, feel so tactile. I imagine Barks carefully observing every detail, trying to capture the essence of this everyday object. What was he thinking about as he worked? The smell of coffee? The warmth of a familiar kitchen? This piece makes me think about the power of painting to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary, and how artists like Barks are always in conversation with the world around them.