Pa. German Butter Mold c. 1938

Albert Levone made this "Pa. German Butter Mold" without a known date. It's a loving rendering of something functional – a butter mold – and I’m really interested in the dialogue between craft and art, and the labour that goes into both. The drawing's in muted tones, and the texture almost feels like it's trying to mimic the original carved wood. I find myself thinking about the person who originally carved the mold, and then Levone, painstakingly recreating it on paper. There’s a real echo of mark-making here. Look closely at the concentric rings bordering the central image, and at the small flower at the top. It’s not trying to trick you into thinking it's the real thing, but it's paying homage to the artistry embedded in everyday objects. It’s like Morandi and his bottles – finding endless inspiration in the mundane. You know, art doesn't always have to shout; sometimes, it whispers, inviting you to lean in and appreciate the quiet beauty of simple things.