Old Dutch Farmhouse c. 1936

Gladys Cook made this watercolor drawing of an old Dutch Farmhouse sometime in the 20th century. Look how the pale purple wash gives a ghostly feel to the house, like it's fading into a dream. I love how she balances a light touch with these sturdy architectural shapes. The repetition of the window shutters, the fence posts, it’s all very rhythmical and a bit wonky. See how the tree in front sort of melts into the house, as if nature's taking over? The details of that lattice work on the porch are really incredible, and it reminds me of a similar pattern that I saw on a quilt once. It’s like she’s saying that art is all about these conversations, a mix of formal structure and free flowing invention. Kind of like life, right? It's never just one thing, it's always a little bit of everything all at once.