Plum 1903

This delicate watercolor of a plum was painted by Henry Hill, likely in the mid-18th century. The materials, humble as they are, tell us a great deal. Watercolor was often favored for botanical studies and informal sketches. Here, the artist has skillfully used the medium’s translucency to capture the plum's subtle gradations of color, its waxy bloom rendered with the lightest touch. The visible brushstrokes and thin washes of pigment reveal the artist's process, a delicate dance between control and spontaneity. However, the seemingly simple choice of watercolor also has social implications. Unlike the grand scale of oil paintings, watercolors were portable and affordable, making art accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. It invites us to consider the democratization of art, and to appreciate the beauty found in everyday subjects.