Sauerkraut Stomper 1939

This 'Sauerkraut Stomper' was painted by Edward Unger, likely with watercolor, and it's all about process, the making of sauerkraut, and the making of an image. I love how Unger renders the wooden texture. The tonal variations, the little nicks and stains, bring this humble tool to life. You can almost feel the weight of it, the give of the wood under pressure. The paint is applied in thin washes, allowing the paper to peek through, creating a sense of light and air. See how the cylindrical base seems worn through use? The drawing feels solid, real. The 'Sauerkraut Stomper' reminds me of the work of Charles Sheeler, particularly his precise, almost photographic depictions of industrial objects. But where Sheeler's work is cool and detached, Unger's has a warmth, a folksy charm. Ultimately, it's a celebration of the everyday, of the beauty that can be found in the simplest of things, inviting us to slow down and appreciate the process, both of making art and making sauerkraut.