Buttons c. 1937

John H. Tercuzzi made this untitled artwork called 'Buttons' on paper, but we don't know exactly when. The muted watercolor palette, carefully observed with a touch of whimsy, emphasizes a commitment to artmaking as a process of close looking. The surface is delicate, with thin washes of color that allow the paper's texture to peek through, especially in the ground. Tercuzzi captures the buttons' details with a quiet precision. Notice the central button, larger than the others. The subtle play of light and shadow on its ornate, creamy surface brings an almost tactile quality to the piece. This work reminds me of some of the early, more illustrative work of Vija Celmins in its quiet intensity and commitment to representing mundane objects. It's a reminder that art can be found in the everyday, and that beauty can be found in simplicity. Tercuzzi invites us to look closer, to appreciate the small wonders that often go unnoticed.