Pilot House Ornament c. 1939

"Pilot House Ornament" is a watercolor painting by Mary E. Humes, created around 1939. The painting depicts a carved wooden figure of a young boy in a sailor's uniform. The figure's carved wooden surface is depicted with realism, highlighting the artist’s attention to detail. The painting is a study of the figure, a common motif in American folk art. It was likely made as a decorative element for a ship's pilot house or as a charming souvenir for a sailor. The painting exemplifies Humes’s fascination with the maritime world. The detailed depiction of the boy's uniform and the intricate carving of the figure's base make this a fine example of the "naive" aesthetic that characterized Humes’s work.