Jerry the Policeman c. 1937

Dorothy Harris made this watercolor of Jerry the Policeman, and it's just got this tender, almost awkward feel about it. Look at the way she’s layered the washes, how the colors bleed into each other, like she's figuring it out as she goes. There’s a quiet struggle in those marks. The paint is thin and watery, allowing the paper's texture to peek through, creating a sense of fragility. See how the blues and reds merge in his face and uniform? It’s not about getting it perfect, it’s about the trying. Those subtle blends evoke a sense of melancholy. It’s in that triangle shape on the side of his coat too, how its asymmetry is both grounding and unsettling. For me, this piece is like a raw, unedited diary entry, reminiscent of some of Redon’s more haunting works, revealing something deeply human in its imperfections.