Shop Figure of Child c. 1937

Beverly Chichester made this 'Shop Figure of Child', we don't know when, but it looks like watercolour on paper. The first thing I see is the blonde hair, strands and strands meticulously painted with fine brushes. Look closely. It’s the kind of sustained, repetitive mark-making that becomes a meditation. The colours, a simple mix of ochre and umber, seem to evoke a sense of nostalgia, maybe even melancholy. The skin has this smooth, almost porcelain quality, like an old doll. The texture is created with thin washes of colour, barely there, but enough to give it shape and form. And the dress, just a hint of blue, suggesting a kind of innocence or naivety. This reminds me of the work of Bill Traylor, he worked with simple materials and a limited palette to create incredibly powerful images. There's something so honest and direct about their work, that speaks to a deeper truth. Art doesn't always need to be complicated or flashy. Sometimes, the simplest things are the most profound.