Box 1935 - 1942

Edna Rex made this 'Box' with what looks like colored pencil, and maybe some watercolor washes. You can almost feel the artist figuring out the angles and dimensions of the box as she goes. What I find so charming is the way the color softly blooms across the wood grain, creating this warm, inviting feeling. It's not about perfection, but about capturing the essence of the object, a real presence. The texture is smooth, but the strokes are visible, adding a personal touch, like a little secret from the artist. Look closely at how Rex renders the shadows and highlights, how they give shape to the form and volume of the box. Notice how the inside of the box seems to contain a pool of deep, dark matter. I see a bit of Giorgio Morandi in the way Rex focuses on the simple, everyday objects of the world. Ultimately, art is about this conversation with the things around us, turning observation into feeling and meaning.