Billethead c. 1942

Harriette Gale made this watercolor drawing of a billeted head, we don’t know when, but its swirling forms and vibrant palette suggest a real love for the act of artmaking. Gale's Billethead is all about process, about the layering and mixing of color, the way the pigment settles into the paper, creating a soft, almost velvety texture. I love how she captures the light hitting the architectural ornament, the way the shadows dance and play across its surface. It feels so alive, like it's breathing! Look how the paint seems to pool in some areas, creating these juicy little pockets of color, and how in other areas, the brushstrokes are so delicate, almost transparent. This kind of attention to the physicality of paint, reminds me of Elizabeth Murray, who was also interested in how the medium itself could become a subject. Of course, this piece leaves lots of room for interpretation, which is one of the things I love most about art.