Pa. German Book Marker c. 1937

Albert Levone made this Pa. German Book Marker with what looks like watercolor and ink. Isn't it charming? The way the colors bleed into each other gives it a real handmade feel, you know? Like someone just sitting down and letting their imagination flow onto paper. I’m really drawn to the little bird-like creature on the right side. The way the blues and reds swirl together, it almost looks like it's dancing. There’s a playful quality to the line work that reminds me of Paul Klee, but with a folk art twist. The surface is simple, you can see the paper through the colors, and the physical process of painting is so clear. It’s not trying to hide anything. Looking at Levone’s marker, I’m reminded that art isn’t about perfection. It’s about process, about letting go and seeing what happens when you put color to paper.