Tin Sconce 1935 - 1942

Majel G. Claflin made this intriguing gouache painting of a tin sconce. It’s got that cool, flat, illustrative vibe, but it’s also got this weirdly dreamy quality that makes me want to look closer. I’m thinking about her hand moving across the paper, deciding where to put each shape, each delicate wash of grey. You get the feeling that she’s not just copying what she sees, but actually building the object on the page. It’s a lesson in how to make something out of almost nothing. I keep thinking about Morandi and his bottles, how he could make them so compelling. Claflin's piece really reminds me of those kinds of paintings. It's something that seems simple but is actually quite profound. The painting speaks to you, whispers about light, form, and maybe even a little bit of the artist's soul.