Billethead c. 1942

Harriette Gale made this watercolor painting of a Billethead sometime during her lifetime, which stretched from 1855 to 1995. I love the way the artist seems to be building a picture out of light and shade. Those watercolor washes really bring out the depth and texture of the original carved object. I can imagine Gale carefully observing, trying to understand each plane and curve. Did she feel a sense of connection to the artisans who originally crafted the billethead? What was her relationship to this object? The floral details and ornamental scrolls are so evocative. I keep thinking about how she might have used each brushstroke to capture the specific feeling. Painting, after all, is all about responding to the world, and then responding to the painting.