Toleware Tin Coffee Pot c. 1937

Elmer G. Anderson rendered this Toleware Tin Coffee Pot, we're not sure when, using a seemingly simple palette, but the work has an undeniable depth. Look closely, and you'll see how Anderson coaxes subtle shades from the metal using thin washes of color, building a patina that feels both real and imagined. The painting has the texture of worn metal. The way Anderson renders the play of light on the pot is just amazing. See the way that the light hits the spout. It is like Anderson is saying that we can see beauty and artistry in everyday objects. Anderson's painting reminds me of some of the still life paintings by Giorgio Morandi, they share this quiet sensibility. But ultimately, art is about seeing the world in new ways, and Anderson certainly invites us to do just that.