Pie Plate c. 1937

Elmer Weise made this painting of a pie plate sometime in the 20th century, using what looks like gouache or maybe watercolor on paper. You can see the process; it's all about layering color to build up the form. The plate itself is a warm, earthy red, with these luscious yellow swirls painted on top. I love how the paint is thick in some spots, almost gloppy, and then thin and transparent in others, giving it this real sense of depth. Look closely, and you can see all the little imperfections, the way the brush dragged across the surface, which makes it feel so alive and handmade. And the shadows! They give the whole thing a kind of solidity, like you could reach out and touch it. That jagged edge to the right could be a Chaim Soutine. It's like Weise is saying, "Hey, look at this humble object. It's beautiful in its own way." And he's right.