Butter Tub 1939

Albert Geuppert made this simple, but lovely, painting of a butter tub, but when is unknown. The warm browns and tans are laid down in thin washes, almost like watercolor. It gives the whole thing a kind of ghostly feel, like a memory. I find myself drawn to the wood grain, the way it’s been so carefully observed. You can almost feel the texture of the wood, the rough edges and the worn surface. It's like Geuppert wasn't just painting an object, but the history held within it. This is a humble subject, right? A butter tub. But it's also a reminder of the everyday, the things we often overlook. In its simplicity, it reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes. Ordinary objects, rendered with such care and attention that they become something more.