Sailor's Sewing Kit c. 1938

This is Samuel Faigin’s ‘Sailor’s Sewing Kit,’ rendered in watercolor, presumably sometime in the mid-20th century. The warm sepia tones feel so delicate, as though he was trying to capture the exact feeling of the object itself. I imagine Samuel Faigin carefully mixing his paints to achieve these muted hues, striving to replicate the aged patina of the wood. He probably held the objects in his hands, turning them over and over to examine the carved details, the delicate line work, and trying to decide what marks to make. Did he pause, maybe, to imagine the sailor who might have once owned these kits? What storms had they weathered together? There is a stillness and quiet contemplation in this painting. It reminds me of the quiet work of other artists who have paid homage to humble, everyday objects. Painters are always chatting, it is a big conversation.