Ship Lantern c. 1936

This is Florence Huston’s ‘Ship Lantern’, made with ink and watercolor on paper. What strikes me first is the precision of the hatching! It’s so systematic, so unlike the messy, intuitive way I usually work. But look closer. The lines vary in thickness, creating depth and shadow. And that soft, translucent green! It glows like sea glass, doesn’t it? It’s interesting how a seemingly technical drawing gains a kind of luminosity through the translucent watercolor. The texture reminds me of the drawings of Josef Albers – the way he also used line and color to create optical effects. Take the word ‘Starboard’ for example. It seems so straightforward, so declarative. But is it really? Is it a signpost, a direction, or just another mark on the page? Huston's lantern navigates this space, embracing the ambiguities of seeing and knowing.