Boy's Coat c. 1937

Nancy Crimi made this watercolor of a "Boy's Coat," and what strikes me is the delicacy of her touch, the way she gently coaxes the form into being. The colors are muted, almost as if they've been whispered onto the paper. It's a tender act of preservation, isn't it? Look at the subtle texture she creates in the fabric. It’s not just flat color, but a woven surface made with tiny strokes. The thinness of the paint allows the paper to breathe, giving the coat a ghostly presence. The green and red embroidery, a playful zig-zag, adds a homespun charm, a bit like Guston's shoes! Crimi reminds me of those unsung artists who find beauty in the everyday, elevating the mundane to the level of art. It’s about seeing the world with fresh eyes, finding poetry in the simplest things.