Doll c. 1936

Kapousouz’s ‘Doll’ is a watercolour, a medium that’s all about flow and letting go, seeing where the water takes you. Looking at it, I imagine her in the act of painting, maybe in a small room, light catching the page, mixing her washes and watching the pink unfurl across the page. I feel like Kapousouz is playing here. I love the way she allows the paint to pool at the hem of the doll’s dress, creating these little blossomings of colour. And those sleeves! Monumental, defying gravity in a way. She's giving this doll such importance. You can sense her fascination with the folds and the way the light catches the fabric. There’s a kind of tenderness in the way she renders it. It's a bit wonky, a little bit surreal, but utterly charming. This piece reminds me that painting is always about invention, about seeing the world anew and making it strange. It's about embracing the unexpected and allowing the medium to lead the way.