Illuminated Title Page from Manuscript Songbook c. 1937

This watercolour, "Illuminated Title Page from Manuscript Songbook," was made on paper by Elmer G. Anderson, though we don't know exactly when. The palette here is really earthy, and the mark-making is almost tentative, like Anderson is feeling his way through the image. It's a beautiful little dance of intention and chance. What strikes me most is the level of detail on the cover, especially the lettering and the stylized flowers, and the winged figure at the top, staring straight out at us. You can see that the paint is applied in thin washes, allowing the paper's texture to come through, giving it this kind of delicate, aged quality. This gives the whole image a soft, dreamlike feeling. Anderson's work reminds me a little of Joseph Yoakum. Both have this incredible ability to create worlds within worlds using humble materials. It's like they're inviting us into a conversation about seeing and believing. For me, that’s what art is all about: asking questions rather than giving answers.