Boy's Coat c. 1937

Nancy Crimi made this watercolour of a Boy’s Coat at an undetermined date. I think about the artist carefully rendering this little coat, and I wonder what she was thinking, what's her story? There is such care in the gentle washes of tan. I see how the green and red stitches are carefully and evenly traced around the perimeter and cuffs with short, even strokes. I feel a tenderness toward her focused attention. I imagine her steady hand repeating each mark, each a little meditation. For me, this coat is a symbol of protection, of care, of all the things we do to keep our little ones safe. I think about other artists who work with found objects or personal items, like Robert Rauschenberg or Louise Bourgeois. Nancy reminds us of the quiet power of everyday objects. She offers a moment of reflection on the beauty and significance of the overlooked.