Andiron (Marching Hessian) 1935 - 1942

This watercolor painting shows a figure with a blank expression and a hat, and it was made by Cushman Parker, who lived from 1855 to 1995. It’s a single figure, an andiron, painted with delicate washes. It reminds me of the kind of art you find in folk museums, capturing a historical artifact with a certain charm. I imagine Parker carefully mixing the watercolors, trying to capture the texture and form of the andiron, one small brushstroke at a time. What was Parker thinking when he made this? Was he interested in preserving a piece of history? Or was he simply drawn to the object? The light in the watercolor is soft. It has a sepia tone, so it feels like it was made a long time ago. The way the paint is thin in some areas and thicker in others creates a sense of depth. Painting is a conversation, and Parker’s work here makes me think about the exchange of ideas across time. It’s like he’s passing the andiron to us to start a conversation, inviting us to reflect on history and our relationship with the past.