Snow Skates c. 1940

Editor: So this is Raymond Neumann's "Snow Skates," from around 1940, a watercolor and pencil drawing. They look...clunky. Functional, I suppose, but definitely not elegant! What strikes you about this drawing? Curator: Clunky! I love that. Yes, there’s a sort of endearing awkwardness to them, isn't there? It’s more than just a study of snow skates, though. To me, it evokes the very *feel* of winter: the weight of heavy boots, the stiff, cold leather. See how Neumann uses subtle gradations of watercolor, almost like faded memories, layered over a precise pencil underdrawing? Editor: I see that now, yes, particularly the underpainting, but I'm curious about the technique. Is it typical for Neumann to combine such detailed sketching with the relative freedom of watercolor? Curator: That tension, I think, is key! The tight control suggests practicality, the necessity of these skates. But then, the watercolor hints at the ephemeral nature of winter itself. Have you ever tried capturing something as fleeting as a melting snowflake? Editor: Never thought of it that way before, but that makes total sense now. The detail gives the skates a sense of reality, while the watercolor gives them…a memory-like quality. It is quite reflective of how moments fade away with time. Curator: Exactly! And aren't memories the only skates we have when winter's gone? I think that is where his particular kind of genius lies. Editor: Wow. I’ll definitely look at Neumann's other pieces with this perspective from now on. I learned a lot – thanks!