Pa. German Toy Hen c. 1937

Robert Harlow created this watercolor of a Pa. German Toy Hen at an unknown date. The colors are muted, like an old photograph, which gives it a sense of nostalgia. There's something lovely about the imperfection of it. The way the colors bleed into each other and the slightly wobbly lines suggest a human touch, a real engagement with the subject. The texture of the paper peeks through the thin layers of paint. See how the red of the hen fades into the black on the upper part of her body? You can almost feel the artist figuring it out as they go. I love the tail, how it becomes more abstract, just a few flicks of green, a wing in short-hand. It reminds me a little of Marsden Hartley's folk art paintings, simple and direct, but full of feeling. It's not about getting it "right," but about capturing the essence of the thing. Art is an ongoing conversation, always borrowing and building on what came before. And like all good art, it leaves plenty of room for us to bring our own interpretations to the table.