Marionette c. 1938

Verna Tallman imagined this fearsome marionette in shades of red and scarlet in her vivid design. I wonder what it was like for her to bring this devilish character to life on paper, maybe conjuring up the energy of a performance. The costume design, with its playful polka dots, feels deceptively light-hearted. Look closer and you’ll see the malevolent grin and horned headpiece that suggest something darker is lurking. The surface is smooth, almost like a carefully rendered illustration. The lines are sharp and precise, each one contributing to the overall sense of theatrical menace. This piece resonates with other artists who explore the darker side of the human psyche. Perhaps Verna felt a kinship with them. She invites us to consider the duality of human nature, the capacity for both innocence and wickedness. It’s a reminder that artists are in an ongoing dialogue, exchanging ideas and inspiring one another to push the boundaries of creative expression.