Keys to John Marshall House c. 1937

Edna Rex made this watercolor of keys to John Marshall House. They hover on the page, these keys, as though she caught them mid-flight. The colors are muted, almost sepia-toned, giving the keys a sense of age and history. You can see how the watercolor bleeds and blends, creating soft edges and subtle variations in tone. The artist seems to allow the medium to take the lead and embrace a certain degree of chance. Look closely at the teeth of the keys, how they’re rendered with such care and precision! Each one is unique, with its own particular nicks and wear, and tells a story of use and history. Her keys remind me of those paintings by Giorgio Morandi - humble domestic objects imbued with a sense of quiet contemplation. It’s art that embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own stories and associations to the image.