Pa. German Bridal Box c. 1940

Adele Brooks made this watercolour drawing of a Pa. German Bridal Box. It’s like she’s translated this three-dimensional object into two dimensions. She is not just representing the box, but also examining its shape from different angles. The surface looks like it’s been worn away with use. Perhaps the real box was old and Brooks was keen to represent that history. I wonder if the artist chose watercolour in order to reproduce this feeling. The heart and arrow motif gives it a sense of romance, don't you think? Maybe Brooks was thinking about all the love tokens that have been exchanged over time. The dove seems to suggest peace and harmony, and maybe hope for the future, all wrapped up in one little box. It makes you wonder what precious things would be stored away in here. It's like all these artists are having a big conversation across time, inspiring each other in ways they didn't even know.