Wall Painting and Niche: Restoration Drawing c. 1939

George E. Rhone made this watercolour drawing of a wall painting and niche, and you can see it’s all about careful observation and restoration. I’m thinking about George, standing there, squinting, trying to capture the light and shadow playing on the wall. The colours are muted, like faded memories, with that reddish brown and a touch of blue—honest colours, you know? There’s a tenderness in the way he’s rendered those little crosses, the arched colonnade. You can feel his respect for the original artists, the way he’s trying to bring their vision back to life. It’s like he’s saying, “Hey, I see you. I see what you were trying to do.” And that’s what art is all about, right? Seeing each other across time, inspiring each other, keeping the conversation going. It’s all one big, messy, beautiful dialogue.