Pa. German Toy Stamping Mill 1935 - 1942

Frances Lichten made this watercolor of a Pa. German Toy Stamping Mill, and it's just so charming. The simple, almost folksy way the toy is rendered, you can tell Lichten was really looking, observing, and then letting the paint do its thing. The color palette is very earthy – browns, tans, and creams – which really brings out the wood grain of the toy. Look at how she uses transparent washes to build up the forms, especially on the base. The shadows aren’t harsh; they’re soft and suggestive. It gives the whole thing a dreamy, nostalgic feel, like a memory. And the little figure operating the mill? With his tiny hat and coat, he's just so adorable! It reminds me a bit of Charles Sheeler's precisionist paintings, but with a warmer, more human touch. Lichten wasn't just documenting; she was celebrating the simple joys of folk art and childhood.