Ship's Billethead c. 1939

Lucille Chabot made this watercolor painting of a ship's billethead, but we don't know exactly when. I find it so interesting how she's captured the carving, its textures and colors, with such care. Look at the way she uses color. The yellows and reds feel like she's building up the form gradually, almost like the wood itself is emerging from the paper. You can almost feel the grain and the way the light catches on the edges. And that spiral at the front, isn't it great? The way she's rendered it, you can see how the carving twists and turns in space. It reminds me of some folk art traditions, where there's this incredible attention to detail, but also a freedom in how the artist interprets the subject. It's not just about representation; it's about feeling the object, understanding its essence, and sharing that understanding with the viewer. It’s a conversation, not a lecture.