Earrings 1935 - 1942

Walter W. Jennings made this watercolour design for "Earrings" sometime during his lifetime, and it's interesting to consider the amount of precision he employed. Look closely, and you will see the black pigment is laid down in thin washes, with only minimal variation in tone, giving a striking contrast with the paper. The earrings are depicted in three different perspectives, as if Jennings was showing off all angles of his design. The highlights, achieved by leaving small areas of bare paper, give the impression of light reflecting off the jewellery, an additional dimension that adds to the sense of realism. It's interesting to imagine the kinds of tools Jennings may have used. Were they fine brushes, or did he apply the paint with something else? The design here is a commercial one, an idea which may then be translated into being worn, an everyday and often overlooked form of adornment. In the same way, perhaps another artist such as Man Ray can be seen to embrace a similar sensibility, as they combine a high level of finish, with an appreciation for the everyday. There’s space for both!