Silk-straw Reticule 1935 - 1942

Dolores Haupt made this watercolor, “Silk-straw Reticule,” and you can tell she took a lot of time and care. I can imagine her patiently laying down each stroke, building up these intricate details and soft washes of color. The pink and blue floral medallions float on the creamy white fabric, above a woven basket with a playful tassel hanging off the bottom. Thinking about the process, maybe she started with a light sketch, then slowly added layers of watercolor to capture the textures and forms. There’s a tenderness to the way she depicts this object. It reminds me of other artists who find beauty in the everyday, like Morandi with his bottles, or maybe a little like some of the folk art I've seen. It’s like she’s inviting us to pause and appreciate the craftsmanship and delicate beauty of this old-fashioned bag. It makes you wonder what kind of treasures it might hold, or the stories it could tell. Dolores is definitely in dialogue with all those painters, showing how beauty lies in the simplest things.