Little Girl with a Large Hat c. 1915 - 1920

Gwen John made this tiny watercolor called Little Girl with a Large Hat, and what strikes me is how she lets the washes of color pool and settle on the paper. It’s so delicate, like a memory fading in and out. I can imagine Gwen John, in her quiet way, trying to capture something fleeting, a sense of innocence perhaps, or the way light catches the brim of a hat. The paint is so thin it almost disappears, yet it creates this whole mood. Look at the way she suggests the shape of the girl's face with just a few strokes, so minimal, yet so evocative. There's a quietness to her work. She reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, in that both artists were so interested in simplicity and understatement. They show us how little you need to say a lot. And, ultimately, that's what painting is all about—an ongoing experiment in seeing and feeling, and letting that guide the way.