Doll c. 1937

Here's a watercolor by Verna Tallman depicting a doll with a removable dress. The doll itself stands so still, as the maker’s hand moved intuitively, shifting tone and hue to create a muted palette. I imagine Tallman thinking about the doll itself: what story does it want to tell? The artist gently coaxed the colors across the surface, allowing them to blend, separate and create unique textures. Look at how the paper bleeds in the pink dress and how it contrasts with the greys. The doll's dress has a heavy feeling, it is not really moving or flowing, but feels like another version of stillness. It’s like Tallman captured a moment of quiet contemplation. Do you see how the details shape our experience? Those tiny, delicate lines might reflect the artist’s patient observation of a familiar subject, like a dialogue with a fellow artist. And that conversation continues as we respond to this watercolor, as the doll now speaks to us!