Cutlass and Leather Scabbard 1935 - 1942

This is a rendering of a Cutlass and Leather Scabbard made in 1845 by an anonymous artist. The soft watercolor washes describe the forms with a light touch, it’s all suggestion rather than definition, like a half-remembered dream. I love the way the artist lets the colors bleed and mingle, especially on the sword's blade. The browns, grays, and blues create a sense of age and wear, telling a story of battles fought and time passed. The little dots of warm colors on the scabbard give it depth and texture, like you could almost feel the rough leather under your fingers. It reminds me a little bit of some of Philip Guston's later, more representational paintings – that same loose, intuitive approach to form and color. You can see how both artists embrace the possibilities of the medium, allowing the paint to speak for itself. Ultimately it’s all about seeing and feeling, not just about depicting.