Flower (Lily) c. 1937

Grace Halpin made this Lily drawing with pencil on paper at some point in the 20th century. It’s a study in how to look closely, to really see something. There’s a sensitivity to the thinness of the lines, a delicate touch with the pencil which gives the flower a translucent, almost ethereal quality. The color palette is limited to shades of grey, silver and green, which might seem restrictive but Halpin creates such beautiful variations and subtle shifts in tone. Look at the way she captures the light reflecting off the petals, it’s really quite something. The stem that loops around like a ribbon is a particularly nice touch, I love how it moves around the flower. It reminds me a little of Odilon Redon, maybe it’s that dream-like quality they share, a kind of quiet intensity. Ultimately, this piece is a reminder that art doesn't always need to shout, sometimes the quietest voices are the most powerful.