Entrance Hall 1935 - 1942

Perkins Harnly made this *Entrance Hall*, and it’s all about color and the joy of making marks. It’s such a riot of flowers and ornamentation. I love how Harnly uses watercolor to create translucent layers. You can really see the surface of the paper underneath. The whole thing has a dreamlike feel, like a memory fading in and out. Check out the vase in the center of the room. It's like a little painting in itself, with all those loose, drippy floral motifs, yet the symmetry gives the work structure. It reminds me a little of Florine Stettheimer’s interior scenes, all that decadent decoration. Both artists aren't afraid to pile it on! Ultimately, this piece is a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation. It's not about getting it right, it's about exploring possibilities.