Fishing Spear 1938

Albert Geuppert made this watercolor drawing of a fishing spear; it is hard to know when. What strikes me first is the muted palette, all those earthy browns and grays, and the way the artist meticulously renders the texture of the rusted metal, you can tell this is a man who appreciates process. I’m drawn to the way Geuppert captures the wear and tear on the spear. The subtle gradations of color, the tiny imperfections, all speak to the history of the object. And those multiple points – they’re not just functional, they create this cool rhythm. Looking at this, I'm reminded of Charles Sheeler, who also found beauty in the everyday, industrial object. But where Sheeler’s work feels cool and detached, Geuppert’s has this warmth, this almost folk-art sensibility. Ultimately, art is about seeing the world in new ways, and trusting that feeling of excitement.