Powder Box c. 1936

Florence Stevenson made this 'Powder Box' artwork in watercolour. The way she’s laid down the blue, it feels considered, almost like she's building up layers of colour, letting the blue bleed into the paper ever so slightly. There's a real intimacy in how she handles the medium, a sense of getting to know the watercolours as she works. If you look closer, the little beads circling the top and bottom are not perfect. They add a human touch, a reminder that art isn't about flawless execution but about the act of creation itself. The colour is almost entirely in the blue range, but it’s so rich and layered that it feels alive. It reminds me a bit of Morandi, actually, in the way he could make still life sing through repetition and subtle variation. And when you look at it from a distance, it radiates a unique form of energy. Ultimately, it is a testament to the beauty found in simplicity and in the process.