Nutcracker c. 1937

This lovely watercolour on paper of a Nutcracker was made by Frank McEntee. The whole thing is painted in a range of blacks, browns and creams. McEntee has outlined it to give it definition, but there’s lots of shading, and attention paid to the way light falls on the shiny metal surface of the nutcracker. I can imagine the artist looking closely, thinking hard about how to describe the gradations of tone and texture. It’s so interesting to me, that someone chose this particular object, this bird-like nutcracker, to devote their time and skill to. Maybe it’s just something they found around the house, or maybe it has a special significance. The handle makes me think of a bird's tail, or maybe it is a lever? Painters are always looking at stuff. It’s our job, and it is what connects us. We see each other across time, inspiring ideas!