Cradle c. 1937

This is Leonard Battee's "Cradle," an undated watercolor painting that captures a simple wooden object, probably a family heirloom. Battee's mark making is direct; it's not fussy or overly rendered, more about capturing the light and form than achieving photorealism. Look closely, and you can see how the brown paint pools in certain areas, creating subtle variations in tone and texture. It's all about the materiality of the paint itself, how it interacts with the paper. The variations in the paint let the surface breathe. I am especially drawn to the curved headboard. It's such a tactile, inviting shape, echoed in miniature in the carved decorations, they're like little hearts. There's a quiet intimacy in Battee's work, a sense of reverence for everyday objects and the stories they hold. It reminds me of the work of outsider artists like Bill Traylor, who found beauty and meaning in the simplest of subjects. Ultimately, art is about seeing the world in new ways, and Battee invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the ordinary.