Bishop Hill: Small Scissors c. 1939

Archie Thompson made this watercolour of small scissors sometime between the 19th and 20th century. There's something so tender about the way Thompson depicts this everyday object, like a quiet meditation on usefulness. The muted palette of browns and greys, combined with delicate rendering of the scissor's worn surfaces, gives the piece a melancholic air. Look at how the light catches the edges of the blades, suggesting both sharpness and the potential for a soft snip. You can almost feel the cool smoothness of the metal, and the slight resistance as the blades come together. Thompson's process isn't hidden; the careful layering of washes is evident in the subtle gradations of tone. It's a painting that reminds me of Giorgio Morandi’s still lifes, in the way it elevates the mundane to something profound. Both artists demonstrate that beauty can be found in the simplest of things if we take the time to really see. Art is an ongoing conversation across time, isn't it?