Powder Horn c. 1938

Annie B. Johnston painted this ‘Powder Horn’ using watercolor. The earthy tones of the horn give it a grounded feel, like something you’d find on a nature walk. But it's the details, those fine lines that create the texture and the subtle shading, that really draw me in. You can almost feel the smoothness of the horn and see the delicate carving of the deer, a symbol of wilderness and freedom. The way the artist handled the medium, so delicately and precisely, you can sense Johnston's deep connection with the object. It's not just a representation, but a kind of portrait of an object, and a portal to a different time. There's something about the simplicity and the focus on detail that reminds me of some of Agnes Martin’s quieter works, where the grid becomes a way to contemplate the infinite. Like Martin, Johnston invites us to slow down and really see.