Hitching Post c. 1937

Gladys Phillips made this watercolor, Hitching Post, in the US, and it’s all about the details. I mean, look at how she teases out the textures and colors of the wood and metal. The paint here is applied in thin washes, layering one over the other. You can almost feel the smooth, weathered surface of the post. It's like she’s inviting you to run your hand along it. The way she renders the horse’s head, with its intricate mane and the metal ring in its mouth, it's like she is inviting you to step back in time, when horses were a vital part of daily life. The brushstrokes themselves are delicate, almost tentative, as if Phillips is feeling her way through the subject. There is a real connection between the artist and her subject. It reminds me a bit of Charles Sheeler, but with a warmer, more personal touch. It’s like she's saying, "Here’s a little piece of the world, rendered with love and care." And that’s something I can definitely get behind.