Doll in Blue Dress 1935 - 1942

Lillian Causey painted "Doll in Blue Dress" sometime between 1855 and 1995, using watercolor to capture this porcelain figure with its elaborate costume and lace detailing. I wonder about Causey painting this doll... Was it a beloved object from childhood, or a more formal exercise in portraiture? The rendering is so loving, so attentive to the intricacies of the ruffles and the gentle play of light across the fabric. Look at the way the blue dress catches the light, and the careful rendering of the lace trim – it’s as though Causey wanted to capture not just the appearance of the doll, but also its essence, its history. For me, this is a painting not just about a doll, but about the act of seeing, remembering, and transforming a cherished object into something timeless. There is something about the pose that reminds me of Manet. Artists are always in a constant dialogue with each other, borrowing and reworking themes and ideas.