Man's Stock Buckle c. 1936

This small watercolour of a stock buckle was made by Charles Criswell, who lived from 1855 to 1995. The buckle is tiny and quite humble. I can imagine Criswell holding this object close, carefully rendering its form. I wonder if this item held a personal meaning or connection to the artist. Did he wear similar buckles? Look at the delicate, subtle washes of colour that define the object’s form, the soft grey and gold, and the precision with which he has marked the central fastener. The attention to detail suggests a deep interest in the world around him. Think about how an object, however small, can hold so much history and cultural information. Artists are always in conversation with one another, and Charles Criswell is here reminding us of the value of paying attention to the small and everyday.