Colcha 1935 - 1942

This gouache painting on paper was made by Majel G. Claflin, and it feels so fresh and unlabored. It’s not clear when it was made, but the colors and the flatness give it a kind of modern kick. I can just imagine Claflin mixing up these colors—browns, pinks, a little turquoise—and making these flat shapes. I love the way the pinks and browns meet. The pink is so alive, and the brown is kind of like, solid. There’s this kid riding a horse, and the horse looks like it's about to take off, but the kid seems chill, like they’re just cruising along. I think about other artists who work with flat shapes and bright colors, like Milton Avery, but Claflin has her own vision. I also love that she included some of the notes on the painting, like “yellow background." It’s so cool to see the artist's process right there on the paper. Thinking about this painting, I realize we're all in this ongoing conversation. We all inspire each other, whether we know it or not.