Reticule c. 1939

Marie Alain's "Reticule" is a lovely, understated piece, like a quiet conversation with paint on paper. The palette here is muted, almost monastic; warm, aged yellows that feel like they’ve been soaking in sunlight for decades. It makes me think about how Alain approached her work, probably slowly, allowing the watercolour to find its own way across the page. Look closely and you'll see how the paint isn’t overworked. It’s thin in places, letting the paper breathe, and then pooling in others to create a gentle illusion of depth. The brushstrokes around the body of the bag itself have a fluid motion, creating subtle shifts in the colour. It is as if Alain is interested in capturing the essence of this bag, rather than rendering it in perfect detail. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, in its quiet intensity and commitment to simplicity. And like Martin’s, Alain's work invites us to slow down, and contemplate.