Costume Doll c. 1938

Al Curry made this watercolor drawing of a "Costume Doll" sometime in the 20th century. It's an interesting approach to mark making, especially in the doll’s dress. Curry is working with thin washes of color that he builds up layer by layer. The off-white of the dress is established with gentle shading. The texture is flat, like paper, and the tones are very muted, almost like it's whispering a secret. This creates a delicate sense of depth. Notice the small, slightly darker lines around the edges of the dress and the soft pleats of the fabric, these gestures give the image a tangible, physical presence. The brushstrokes are careful, controlled. This feels very much like the work of Henry Darger, who also used watercolor to describe the interior world of his own invention. In both artists' works there’s a sense of isolation, of being separate from the world. It's a reminder that art is an open-ended conversation between the artist and the viewer.