Liquor Bottle c. 1939

Adele Brooks created this drawing, Liquor Bottle, with watercolor and graphite on paper. Immediately, the color palette captures our attention, dominated by a singular, pale green hue that washes over the bottle. The composition is deceptively simple: a symmetrical bottle stands centered, a testament to balance, yet it reveals subtle complexities upon closer inspection. The delicate, vine-like patterns etched onto the glass surface introduce a layer of texture that contrasts with the smooth, almost clinical backdrop. This interplay between form and surface design hints at an engagement with semiotics. The bottle is transformed into a signifier, evoking ideas of luxury, tradition, and perhaps even a commentary on domestic life. The artist presents us with a carefully constructed dialogue between color, form, and pattern. The drawing asks us to look beyond the object itself and consider the cultural codes it embodies.