Woodrow and the bean-stalk 1912

This is Woodrow and the bean-stalk by Louis Glackens, and it looks like it was made with pen and ink and some kind of watercolour wash, with these graphic outlines. The whole thing has a cartoonish quality, but when you get up close you can see the lines are a little scratchy and awkward. There's a definite sense of the hand here; it’s not trying to be slick. I like the way the colours have been applied loosely, in a way that feels kind of playful and spontaneous. It looks like Glackens embraced a bit of chance in the process, and wasn't afraid to let the image be a bit clunky or rough around the edges. Check out the way the giant is falling out of the tree, his hand is so stiff and awkward, like he's a puppet or a paper cutout being dangled in space. It's these little details that give the image its charm. It's like the painting is winking at you, suggesting that art is an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time.