Pack Saddle c. 1940

This Pack Saddle was made by Cornelius Christoffels, who was born in 1879, and it's rendered with a delicate touch, a softness that belies the object’s sturdy purpose. The colors here are muted, almost faded, like they’ve been worn down by time and use, or, like it's been bleached by the sun. Look at how the watercolor bleeds into the paper, creating these soft edges, especially around the straps. There is a real sense of place, and I think that comes from the way the artist attends to the material properties of this object. You can almost feel the grain of the wood, the texture of the leather. What I really love is how he captures the wear and tear, the little imperfections that give this saddle its character. It makes me think of Charles Burchfield, another artist who found beauty in the everyday. This work, like much art, reminds us that everything has a story to tell, if only we take the time to look and listen.