Indian Doll - Winnipeg Brave 1935 - 1942

Jane Iverson created this watercolour painting, "Indian Doll - Winnipeg Brave," sometime in the 20th century. The composition immediately draws you in with its central figure, meticulously rendered. The doll is brown with a grey hat, feathers, and white hair. She is holding a brown instrument with white edges. Iverson's careful attention to form is evident in the way she represents the texture and shape of the doll, using the medium of watercolour to create a sense of depth and volume. The doll is placed on a geometric brown block; the painting explores the semiotic interplay between the object and its representation. The choice of watercolour as a medium is significant. It allows for delicate washes of color and subtle gradations of tone, which Iverson exploits to create a sense of realism. The formal elements work together to evoke questions about authenticity and cultural representation. The artwork invites us to reflect on how cultural artifacts are constructed and perceived.