Copper Kettle c. 1939

Edward L. Loper created this copper kettle in watercolour on paper, and it's the kind of painting that makes you think about the everyday, the beauty in the mundane. The color is really where this piece sings; it's all about the warmth of the copper, how the light hits it, and those subtle shifts in tone. Look closely, and you'll notice the artist's delicate layering, building up the form with thin washes. It's a patient process, a slow reveal of the object's character. There’s a certain spot, just near the base, where the color deepens, almost glows, and it gives the kettle weight, grounds it in reality. It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, in how he makes these simple, domestic objects feel monumental, full of quiet dignity. It's a reminder that art can be found anywhere, in anything, if you take the time to really look.