Zoar Flute Recorder c. 1938

Jerry Guinta made this painting of a Zoar Flute Recorder sometime during his lifetime. Look at the way he rendered the wood! The burnished brown tones almost seem to glow. It reminds me a little of Morandi’s muted bottles, so dedicated to the nuances of tone and form. I imagine Guinta, so focused on the object, almost meditative in his approach. Each tiny hole, each subtle shift in color is carefully observed. There is a very real pleasure to be found in rendering a thing. This recorder embodies the idea of music, the ghost of melody. Like still life painting, where objects stand in for human dramas, this flute makes me think of people, breathing, playing, and living through their art. Isn't that what it's all about?