Doll c. 1936

Marian Curtis Foster created this watercolor of a doll, and it’s a great example of how art can be about capturing a feeling more than a perfect likeness. Foster's doll is rendered with thin washes, giving it an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality. Look at the dress, a pale grey with these quirky floral motifs – they’re not precise, each one kind of wobbly and unique. It gives you the sense that she’s creating a memory of a doll rather than a literal representation. The textures in this piece are so subtle. It's as though the paper itself is part of the image, soaking up the color. The translucency allows the whiteness to peek through, enhancing the work's delicate atmosphere. There's something childlike in the making here, an honesty in the application of the paint, reminiscent of outsider art, like the work of Bill Traylor. Both artists share a directness and simplicity, prioritizing expression over conventional technique. I think that sense of freedom makes this piece feel so alive.