Tavern Figure 1935 - 1942

This is Henry Murphy's "Tavern Figure," painted with watercolor on paper, though we don’t know exactly when. Look at how Murphy layers the paint to create a sense of volume, the way he uses the translucence of watercolor to give the figure’s skin a kind of glow. It’s all about building up layers, almost like a glaze. I find the highlights on the figure’s brow really interesting, how they reflect and catch the light. Murphy’s built them up using a series of very thin washes of color. It’s about control but also about letting the watercolor do its thing, too. I am reminded of other painters such as Thomas Rowlandson. Murphy’s work, like Rowlandson’s is about trying to capture the energy of a fleeting moment. It embraces both the precision and also the accidents of watercolor. It's a balancing act between intention and chance, and I think Murphy pulls it off.