Porcelain Dogs 1935 - 1942

Walter W. Jennings made this watercolor of porcelain dogs sometime in the 20th century. The pastel palette and delicate lines gives the dogs a sweet and quiet presence, like a memory fading into the background. Looking closely, you can see how Jennings built up the forms with tiny strokes. The texture of the paper shines through, giving a sense of lightness and transparency. I keep thinking about that little cluster of purple flowers rising above the dogs’ heads – are they meant to be a crown, or maybe a strange, mutated tree? This little detail disrupts the image, bringing a touch of the uncanny into the otherwise gentle scene. Jennings seems to share something with Joseph Yoakum in their use of intuitive mark-making to describe real or imagined scenes. Ultimately, this drawing is a reminder that art doesn't always need to be loud or dramatic. Sometimes, the most profound experiences can be found in the quietest corners.