Bandbox Design c. 1939

Walter Doran made this bandbox design using watercolor and graphite. There's something lovely in the way the geometric, repeating patterns create a dense, all-over field of imagery, like a textile sample. The color palette is pretty muted, a reddish-brown with touches of dark green and cream. I like the looseness of the graphite lines, how they contrast with the tight symmetry of the central motif. Look how some of the marks seem to be deliberately blurred or smudged to create depth and texture. In the lower half of the design, the red is slightly more intense, creating an asymmetrical effect and giving the impression of light gradually fading. It reminds me of the work of pattern and decoration artists like Robert Kushner. Ultimately, this piece is less about the finished product and more about the act of making. In the end, it's not about whether it looks like "real" bandbox. The beauty is in the imperfections and the unique, handmade quality of Doran's design.