Wax Doll c. 1937

Edna Rex made this doll in watercolour and it's such an endearing portrayal. I think about the material, watercolour being so liquid and ethereal, and the way Rex has managed to capture the waxen feel of the doll's face. You know, the subtle sheen and slight imperfections of the wax. It's remarkable. There's a sense of stillness about this doll, but also a strange kind of animation. Maybe Rex was thinking about childhood, memory, and how we project life onto inanimate objects. That big blue bow is so beautiful, like something from a dream. It's not about perfection. It's more about feeling, and how something handmade can carry so much emotion. It's lovely.