Pearl Pin 1935 - 1942

Tulita Westfall made this drawing of a ‘Pearl Pin’ with graphite and colored pencil. Isn’t it interesting how the image is both precise and kind of dreamy at the same time? You get the impression that she really enjoyed the process of making it. Look at the drawing, and you’ll see that the gold colour of the leaves at the top seems to glow from within. The forms are built up with layers of very fine marks. It’s like she’s slowly coaxing the image into being, almost like alchemy. I love the way that the soft, almost iridescent greys of the pearls contrast with the golden leaves. And do you see how some of the pearls are slightly off-center, giving the whole thing a sense of movement? The way that Tulita Westfall uses such careful observation to capture the beauty of a simple object reminds me of the work of some of the early American still-life painters. Of course, her interest in jewelry connects the work to a history of ornament and design, which is no less important! The beauty of art is in its ability to hold all these different ideas at once.