Woman's Slipper c. 1938

Francis Law Durand made this woman’s slipper, and it’s really something, isn’t it? I can imagine the artist playing with a watery brush and pigments, conjuring the slipper’s form and surface, layer by layer, and stain by stain. What was Durand thinking, I wonder, getting so close to this object? The slipper hovers on the paper, its creamy tones and delicate frills rendered with patience and care. Look at those tiny serrations! They are really cute. The paint's thin, almost like a veil, allowing the paper's surface to peek through. Durand really let the colors flow and blend, capturing the slipper's gentle curves and the way light catches its form. This piece reminds me of other artists like Alex Katz, who also paid attention to the beauty of everyday life. All these artists, across different times and places, are kindred spirits. They show us how to really see the world. It’s like they’re saying, “Hey, look closer; there's magic everywhere, even in a shoe.”