Pa. German Water Whistle c. 1938

Carl Strehlau made this delightful watercolor painting of a Pa. German Water Whistle, and wow, what a thing it must have been to behold. I can almost feel the artist's breath as he painted, observing the ceramic rooster with brown and black dapples and expressive brushstrokes. He must have looked closely at the actual object to notice how the light fell on its surface. I imagine Strehlau had an interest in capturing the essence of form, perhaps playing with light and shadow to bring out the rooster's unique character. He carefully rendered the object's texture, capturing the smoothness of the glaze and the subtle variations in color. I wonder if he made the object himself! Painters are always conversing across time, inspiring each other's creativity. This piece reminds us that painting is a form of embodied expression, embracing uncertainty and allowing for multiple readings.