Pa. German Death Certificate c. 1937

This Pa. German Death Certificate, made with ink and watercolor by Albert Levone, feels so tender and meticulously rendered, with these colors – reds, blues, yellows, greens – that hum against the brown paper. I love how Levone treats each letter, each mark, as if it’s a painting in itself. The floral border is particularly striking to me. It’s not about perfection; it’s about a dedication to process, which gives the piece a really touching quality. I notice the texture of the paper, the way the ink bleeds ever so slightly, creating soft edges. And look at the way the script varies in thickness. It makes me think of Morandi, and his humble dedication to painting the same collection of bottles over and over. This piece invites us to consider the act of making art as a form of devotion, a celebration of life and memory through the slow, deliberate act of creation. It’s a quiet, profound statement about art's ability to hold and honor our histories.