Money Vest 1935 - 1942

This watercolor titled 'Money Vest' was painted by John Thorsen. Look how softly Thorsen has rendered this curious garment with such delicacy. Imagine him, brush in hand, carefully building up the pale hues and subtle shadows. I can almost feel the artist's concentration, meticulously capturing each quilted detail. There’s a tender attentiveness here, as if he’s trying to understand not just what the vest looks like, but what it *means*. What were people thinking when they made these things? I wonder about its possible stories. Is it meant to protect something valuable? Or perhaps just to make a statement? The way Thorsen lets the watercolor bleed and blend gives the vest a sense of softness, as if it were a cloud or a memory. He makes something so utilitarian, so grounded in necessity, float on the page. In that sense, it echoes a history of painters who take everyday objects as a form of creative inspiration.