Cow Bell #6 (With Star) c. 1936

Dorothy Brennan, sometime in the 20th century, made this painting with what looks like watercolor, rendering two cowbells with such dedicated attention. It's like she's saying, "Hey, even the most humble objects have a story to tell." I love how she handles the surfaces. The colors are muted, almost like she’s trying to capture the actual, weathered texture of old metal. See that little star on the left bell? It's not just decoration; it's a focal point. It catches the light, just like in real life, and makes you wonder about the person who first put it there. The bell on the right shows the inside, all dark and mysterious. It reminds me of a Hopper painting, the way she finds beauty in the everyday. Or maybe even some of the early American folk artists, finding deep meaning in simple things. Art is just a way of seeing, right? And Brennan definitely had a unique vision.