Lenrert Estate c. 1936

Gladys Cook made this watercolour painting, Lenrert Estate, on paper. Looking at the image, I imagine Cook outside with her paper on a sunny day. She's trying to capture the essence of the house and the light in the scene. The pale colours give the scene an airy, open feeling. Thin washes create soft textures and a sense of tranquility. I can sense a light breeze in the movement of the trees. I love the way she mixed those greens! And the house itself is so cute, almost like a dollhouse. Those small windows remind me of the little houses that Fairfield Porter painted. It’s amazing how each artist’s sensibility shows through, even when painting the same subject! You can see how painters have a conversation across generations. Each brushstroke, each decision on how to represent form and light, adds to the ongoing story of painting.