Indian Doll Group 1935 - 1942

Jane Iverson made this watercolour and graphite painting of Indian Doll Group sometime in the mid-20th century. I love the confident mark-making here. Iverson fearlessly dives into the depiction of these dolls, capturing their forms with directness. The ochre palette, offset by the red skirts, lends the painting a raw earthiness. Look at how the paint is applied; it's thin in places, allowing the paper to breathe, yet thick enough to define the forms of the dolls. I'm drawn to the way Iverson handles the faces, with those bold, mask-like markings around the eyes. They seem both primitive and sophisticated, recalling the art of children and that of Picasso. This image reminds me of Marsden Hartley's folk art portraits. Both artists share a reverence for their subjects, imbuing them with a sense of timeless dignity. Ultimately, this painting invites us to consider the beauty found in the imperfect and the power of art to connect us to different cultures and ways of seeing.