Bread Tray 1935 - 1942

Mildred Ford painted this bread tray, we’re not sure when, and with what. But look at the directness of the image! There’s a real material presence here, a sense of something handled, worn, and loved. The floral motifs aren’t fussed over, they’re laid down with a knowing simplicity, echoing the original maker’s hand. See how the paint’s thin in places, letting the red peek through, while elsewhere it’s built up to give the flowers real presence? It’s this balance between revealing and concealing that I find so interesting. It reminds me of Elizabeth Murray's paintings where everyday objects are reimagined, pushed and pulled into new forms. Both artists share a fascination with the stuff of life, the things we use and touch every day, and both transform these ordinary objects into something extraordinary. In the end, art is an invitation to see the world anew.