Bible Box c. 1936

Bernard Gussow made this rendering of a Bible Box, likely on paper, with watercolor. The box floats, suspended, against the plain ground. Notice the care the artist took to capture the highlights and shadows of the carved wood, creating form and a sense of depth. The color palette is minimal, essentially one color, a kind of burnt umber that evokes the object's material presence. It’s interesting to think about the process of making this image, of building up tone and texture with tiny hatched strokes. I love how the artist has allowed some imperfections to remain visible - little spots and smudges that evidence the touch of the artist, reminding us of the human hand involved in its creation. It brings someone like Agnes Martin to mind and her celebration of a subtle beauty. It suggests that art is an ongoing conversation across time and one that embraces ambiguity.