Toy Wagon 1935 - 1942

Francis Law Durand made this object portrait of a toy wagon without a date, in watercolour. It seems so different from the paintings I usually look at, but the idea of portraiture is appealing. I can imagine Durand, maybe in his studio, carefully measuring and sketching out the wagon's form, lost in thought. He must have been thinking about childhood. How did he feel about the toy? Was it his own? I find myself wondering about that long handle, and the colour combinations. I like how the green complements the reds and browns. The evenness of the watercolour suggests a controlled process, but maybe there were small acts of rebellion or experimentation along the way. Thinking about Durand working on this in his studio feels like I'm part of a long conversation between painters across time. We all try to make sense of the world around us, and the world that was, through our work. I hope it still inspires creative responses in others today.