So Diamond sat down again and took the baby in his lap 1919

Jessie Willcox Smith made this illustration, title "So Diamond sat down again and took the baby in his lap," with a delicate, soft touch – it’s like she’s painting a memory. The whole scene glows, doesn’t it? Look at how she uses watercolor to create a sense of light. The colors are muted, almost dreamlike, but there's a real attention to detail, especially in the faces. See the elder child's blue smock and the baby’s smilling face. The brushstrokes are soft. It's not about perfection but about feeling. Smith has this wonderful way of making the everyday seem special, almost sacred. You can feel the warmth of the home, the gentle love between the children. It reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker’s paintings of mothers and children, that same sense of intimacy and quiet observation. It is less expressionistic but has the same sense of care in the marks. I think we all yearn for that kind of tender connection, that kind of peace.