Pa. German Pie Plate c. 1936

Albert Levone made this Pa. German Pie Plate. Just imagine the artist, Albert Levone, carefully painting this folk art piece. The colours, soft yellows, greens and reds, are so pleasing. I can almost feel the texture of the paint, not too thick, just enough to give the image a bit of depth. The central motif, a bird perched on a plant, is so charming and invites curiosity. What did it mean to Albert Levone? Perhaps a symbol of freedom or nature. He probably had a particular feeling in mind, a desire to express and a unique way of seeing the world. There’s something comforting about the way Albert uses a continuous line to create the work. It reminds me of other folk artists I admire, like Henry Darger, who similarly create their own visual language. It's like they're all in conversation, exchanging ideas and inspiring each other.