Doll c. 1939

Lucille Lacoursiere made this watercolour drawing, “Doll,” and what strikes me most is the delicate touch, almost like she’s whispering secrets onto the paper. The colors are muted, almost faded, giving the doll a ghostly, ethereal presence. Look at the way the lace is rendered - each tiny detail is suggested with such care. You can almost feel the texture of the fabric and the delicacy of the craft. It's not about precision, but capturing the essence of lace, the way light filters through its intricate patterns. The way the colors blend, bleed and layer reminds me of the work of Lois Dodd. There's a similar sense of quiet observation, an appreciation for the subtle beauty of everyday objects. In the bottom right corner, the handwriting seems to float, as if Lacoursiere is gently reminding us of the human touch behind the art. This drawing embraces ambiguity, it invites us to bring our own stories, our own memories to the doll.