Stone Carved Out to Hold War Paint c. 1941

Marie Lutrell’s watercolor, "Stone Carved Out to Hold War Paint," presents a study in form and texture, where a carved stone is set against a neutral ground. The earthy tones and the rough texture of the stone contrast with the smooth, almost ethereal quality of the paper. Lutrell focuses on the interplay between the stone's solid form and the void it contains. This exploration creates a visual dialogue, inviting us to consider the semiotics of space and object. The stone, a symbol of permanence, is intentionally altered. We can question the structural integrity as a subversion of its inherent strength. The careful rendering of texture and light suggests an interest in material presence and challenges our perception of solidity. Luttrell’s work encourages us to question the fixed meanings of objects and the ways we engage with them through visual representation. Is this a functional item or a symbolic one? Perhaps it’s both.