Well with Movable Beam c. 1937

Majel G. Claflin's watercolor painting pictures a well with a movable beam, all rendered in pale, earthy tones. It's like a structural poem in muted browns and grays. You can sense Claflin's focus on precision, carefully detailing the textures of the wood. I imagine her, brush in hand, thoughtfully observing how each beam connects to the next, and the way light must catch on the rough-hewn surfaces. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving, placing those careful washes of color, building up the forms. The cool blues of the rope provide a subtle color contrast. It’s as if the object becomes a metaphor for drawing water, or perhaps even for pulling ideas from the depths of the subconscious? You can see a similar attention to form in the work of Charles Sheeler or the precisionist painters. It is as if Claflin is engaging in a conversation about clarity and purpose. I wonder what she was thinking while making this? Ultimately, painting becomes a process of discovery, as the act of close observation transforms the everyday into something new and evocative.