Ship Carver's Sign c. 1938

This sign by Dorothy Hay Jensen—I wonder when it was painted—captures a ship gliding on gentle blue waves, framed by swirling gold and muted purples. It feels like a sign you might find on a New England storefront. I can imagine Jensen's hand carefully sketching the sails, each line precise, the curves of the frame ornate and playful. Was she thinking of the carver who made the original sign? Of the sailors out on the open water? The paint is so light that it almost seems transparent. The gold and purple frame feels like a stage, and the ship is the star of the show. I love how Jensen nods to folk art traditions while bringing her own vision to the piece. Her delicate rendering of a traditional subject reminds us of the ongoing conversation between artists across time and place. And how they embrace the act of seeing with curiosity.