Toy Wagon 1935 - 1942

Francis Law Durand made this drawing of a toy wagon, we don't know exactly when, but his life spanned from 1855 to 1995. Look at how Durand's delicate watercolor evokes a kind of design blueprint. The colors are muted, almost faded, as if the paper itself holds memories. The wagon isn't just a wagon; it's a ghost of a toy, a symbol of childhood wonder carefully mapped out. See the precision in the lines, like he's trying to capture not just the form but the very idea of the wagon. That single line extending forward—is it a call to adventure, or just the bare bones of a plan? The texture of the paper peeks through the washes of color, adding another layer of time. There’s a kinship here with Joseph Cornell, who also used found images and ephemera to build little worlds. Durand reminds us that even the simplest things carry the weight of imagination and possibility.