A Wooden Door of a Farm Building near Merano 1860

Franz Meyerheim made this watercolor of a wooden door of a farm building near Merano. What interests me most about this unassuming little painting is the contrast between the subject matter, and the sensitive way it’s been rendered. Meyerheim elected to use watercolor on paper, a readily available and portable material for on-site work. However, he has used the material in a way that implies substantiality. The layered washes of muted color create a sense of depth, and weight to the door itself. Consider the skill involved in the process. Meyerheim had to exercise complete control over the saturation of his brush, to model the weathered surface of the timber. He is attentive to the way the door is constructed, with vertical planks joined together. This speaks to a close observation of the built environment, and a respect for the labor that went into its making. The artist’s choice to represent a vernacular structure, elevates the everyday, prompting us to reconsider what is worthy of artistic attention.