Meat Chopper c. 1940

This is Raymond Manupelli’s, "Meat Chopper," made at an unknown date with watercolor. The way Manupelli handles the green paint makes me think about the process of seeing, and how that relates to making. I notice the green isn’t just flat; it's built up with layers and variations, giving the wood a sense of age and texture. Look closely, and you'll see little details, like the dark lines suggesting the grain of the wood. This gives it depth and a kind of history. It’s interesting how the artist chose to depict such an everyday object, turning a mundane machine into something worth contemplating. The precise lines and careful shading remind me of some of those old scientific illustrations, like maybe Anna Atkins' cyanotypes. They share that same fascination with capturing the details of the world around us, turning observation into art. There's no right or wrong way to look at it; the important thing is to keep looking, keep thinking, and let the art spark something in you.