Pa. German Pie Dish c. 1936

Max Soltmann made this piece, Pa. German Pie Dish with paint on paper. It's a kind of humble, muted affair, mostly tans, creams, reds, and greens. Looking at it, I imagine Soltmann with his brushes, carefully outlining these tulip-like forms. You can almost feel the steady hand guiding the paint, trying to get it just right. It's not perfect, and that's what I love about it. There's something so tender about folk art that I really like. The way the paint sits on the paper, thin and washy, it’s not trying to be flashy, but it has a sort of earnest quality. The artist used a muted colour palette, which gives it a soft, aged feel, as if it’s whispering stories from the past. It reminds me of how we’re all connected as artists, riffing on each other’s ideas across time and space. Painting isn’t just about making an image; it’s about feeling, thinking, and being in the world. It's about embracing the messy, imperfect process of creation.