Painted Chest 1935 - 1942

Majel G. Claflin made this painted chest, we don’t know exactly when, but it feels like she was really enjoying herself! Look at the way she’s laid down these bright colors, and the way the floral motifs create a sense of lively rhythm. Claflin's turquoise base really sings, popping against the reds, whites, and browns. The paint looks fluid, not overworked, as if she were allowing the brush to dance across the surface. Zooming in, you can almost feel the rhythm of her hand as she laid down each swirling line and dot. Notice the little cluster of vertical white dashes at the center of the chest, like tiny exclamation points, giving the piece an almost musical quality. You could say that Claflin was part of a conversation that includes folk artists like Henri Rousseau, who found freedom in simplified forms and vivid colors. Ultimately, it's this sense of joy and freedom that makes the piece so resonant!