53 At Jennie Richee Assuming nuded appearance... 

This watercolor, made by Henry Darger, is part of a much larger illustrated manuscript called "The Story of the Vivian Girls." Darger was an outsider artist, largely self-taught and working in isolation. You can really sense the intensity of his vision through the repetitive act of creation, and the sheer amount of work involved in these epic projects. He built up his images from magazine clippings, tracings, and projections. The Vivian Girls are often depicted in idyllic landscapes but are constantly threatened with violence, and in this image, are shown in a nuded appearance. What I find particularly compelling about Darger's work is the way it challenges our conventional notions of art and craft, high and low. It is raw and untamed, driven by his unique vision and fueled by his unwavering commitment. Darger transforms the everyday materials of paper and watercolor into something extraordinary, reminding us that art can be found in the most unexpected places.