Sewing Kit and Spool Box c. 1938

Edward L. Loper made this painting of a sewing kit and spool box, but the date it was made is unknown. Look at all the little details, the grains in the wood, the shadows. I can imagine Loper carefully studying this wooden box, trying to capture its essence on paper. It’s like he’s saying, "I see you, humble object, and you are worthy of attention." I wonder what it was like to be Loper, sitting there with his paints and brushes. Did he get lost in the process? Did he struggle to get the colors just right? It’s like a conversation between the artist and the object, each influencing the other. When I look at paintings like this, I think about other painters, too. It's like we’re all part of this big, ongoing conversation, bouncing ideas off each other across time. We see each other’s works, and we’re inspired to try new things, to push the boundaries of what painting can be. It's less about answers and more about keeping the conversation going.