Doll - "Martha Ann" c. 1937

Anne Colman made this watercolor painting of a doll, called "Martha Ann," sometime during her lifetime, between 1855 and 1995. Colman, an American artist, was deeply engaged in preserving the material culture of earlier generations. Dolls, like this one, offer a rich lens through which we can examine the social and cultural values transmitted to children, especially young girls, during the late 19th and 20th centuries. "Martha Ann" is carefully dressed and her face delicately rendered, reflecting the societal expectations placed on women for beauty and domesticity. The act of depicting the doll itself suggests an interest in the objects that shaped childhood experiences and gender roles within the home. Understanding Colman's work requires us to consider the traditions of folk art and the ways artists have historically represented childhood. Investigating the archives of museums and historical societies, can reveal the significance of dolls as both playthings and cultural artifacts, reflecting ideas about family, education, and the performance of identity.