Music Box 1935 - 1942

Chris Makrenos created this watercolor of a Music Box, and you can see how the paint is applied in thin washes to capture the wood grain and the soft folds of the red curtain. I imagine Makrenos carefully constructing the image, building up the forms with delicate layers. Look how each element of the music box seems to come alive on the page, from the little chickens pecking away to the illustration of the two children at the bottom. I feel that the light falling across the surfaces creates a sense of depth and texture. He brings a tender eye and hand. It makes me think about the tradition of folk art and how artists like Makrenos, whether trained or self-taught, bring their unique vision to these everyday objects. Artists constantly borrow, exchange, and riff off one another, creating an ongoing dialogue across generations. Painting can be this deeply personal form of expression, a space where artists embrace ambiguity and invite multiple interpretations.