Hand Puppet "Punch" c. 1936

William Kerby rendered this watercolor of a “Punch” hand puppet at an undetermined time with an illustrative clarity. I imagine Kerby capturing the puppet's essence on paper, meticulously layering washes of color, each stroke a careful act of observation and interpretation. What was he thinking as he made it? Perhaps Kerby saw in the puppet a reflection of human folly, a caricature of ourselves, with all our flaws and contradictions laid bare. There’s a bit of Goya in the satire here. Notice how the transparent quality of the watercolor allows the paper to shine through, creating a luminous effect that gives the puppet a sense of liveliness. The application of the paint mimics the textures and forms of the puppet itself, inviting us to engage with the image on a tactile level. Across time, artists look at the work of others to spark their own, generating constant exchange of ideas, inspiring creativity, and allowing for multiple interpretations.