Bandbox c. 1939

Joseph Rothenberg made this painting, Bandbox, using watercolor and graphite on paper. The surface is built up with delicate strokes in tan and blue. It's a simple rendering of a cylindrical box, an everyday object adorned with these regal floral motifs. I imagine Rothenberg, carefully holding his brush, gently layering the watercolor to capture the way the light falls on the cardboard surface. The blue is so crisp and bright. It's a striking contrast against the tan backdrop of the box. It's a dance between precision and spontaneity. Those floral elements, like little crowns, maybe they tell a story about the artist's eye, always searching for beauty in the mundane. It makes me think about other painters who found inspiration in the domestic sphere, like Morandi with his bottles. Artists are always riffing off each other, creating this crazy conversation across time, inspiring each other to see the world anew. And, as a painter, I believe that the real magic is not in the final product, but in the act of painting itself. It’s a journey, full of surprises, where we discover new ways of seeing, thinking, and feeling.