Doll - "Carrie" 1935 - 1942

Hal Blakeley painted this doll, "Carrie," on paper, but the date of creation is unknown. There's a gentleness in the watercolor washes that Blakeley applied to the paper. Looking at it, I think about how Blakeley layered the colors to give the impression of texture. Like, how they built up the pinks and reds to give the doll's dress some volume. It’s not just a flat color; it’s got depth, you know? I wonder about Blakely's process. Were they trying to capture a likeness, or were they also trying to capture a feeling, an emotion? The lace trim around the doll's neck and the ruffles at the bottom of the dress are so ornate, like the painter is really paying attention to the details, thinking about how it all comes together to make something beautiful. When you look at the painting, it makes you think about the work of other painters, other artists, and how we're all in this ongoing conversation, trading ideas across time.