Copper Bowl c. 1938

This copper bowl was painted by Rex F. Bush, who lived an incredibly long life, from 1855 to 1995. Just look at the way the reddish-brown pigment has been used to create a sense of depth and volume, like a polished gem glowing softly. It is as if Bush has tried to capture a moment of stillness. I imagine he was completely absorbed, carefully observing the nuances of light as it hits the metallic surface of the bowl. He must have worked slowly and deliberately, building up layers of thin paint to achieve this effect of burnished light. The bowl is an everyday object but it is also transformed into an object of quiet contemplation. It reminds us that artists are always in conversation with each other, across time and space.