Woman's Slipper c. 1940

Virginia Berge, who lived from 1855 to 1995, made this watercolor called 'Woman's Slipper', in a style that feels both meticulous and intimate. Look at the delicate gradations of tone that she has achieved in the shoe, from the light on the heel to the dark toe. It's a painting that invites contemplation, a reminder of art's capacity to find the extraordinary in the everyday. There’s something so tender about the way she's rendered the texture of this slipper. You can almost feel the soft nap of the fabric, the gentle curve of the form. Notice the shadows and highlights, so carefully observed, they give the object depth and weight. She has paid attention to the details; the subtle changes in colour, the precise rendering of edges. I am reminded of Morandi, another artist who found endless inspiration in simple objects, transforming them through his meditative observation. Ultimately, this painting is a testament to the power of art to elevate the mundane to the level of the sublime.