Wooden Decoy c. 1937

Curator: I'm struck by the stillness in this piece, almost melancholic. What’s your first impression? Editor: It makes me think of those long, still afternoons by a lake, where everything holds its breath. There's a strange calmness, and maybe a bit of waiting. Curator: I see that. This is a watercolor and charcoal work by Chris Makrenos, titled "Wooden Decoy", created around 1937. The drawing depicts… well, a wooden decoy of a bird. Editor: So, it's a picture of something meant to deceive! Does that layer add some extra, sneaky symbolism, or is it simply realistic? Curator: Decoys, as stand-ins, have a long symbolic history representing not just trickery but also surrogacy. Throughout history, effigies and simulacra played key roles, from religious ritual to folk magic, highlighting our complex relationship with representation. Editor: True. The rendering, too, gives me pause. Is the decoy representing absence as much as it presents a deceptive presence? The soft texture gives the figure weight while seeming to suggest its artificial construction, or at least the impossibility of animation. I’m really captivated by this. Curator: Makrenos skillfully captured the texture and form through precise hatching and blending. The subdued palette is also notable; it leans heavily on earth tones which enhances the quiet, somewhat faded atmosphere. Editor: The earth tones almost drain the vibrancy, making it look aged even though it’s not *that* old. The illusion of wood grain feels authentic too. What I think I appreciate most is how deceptively simple the work feels. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps it hints at broader human endeavors of emulation. After all, the history of art involves us continuously attempting to recreate nature or conjure our ideal forms in artifice. Editor: A really fascinating point. Well, now I see this painting in an entirely new light. Thanks. Curator: And thank you. It’s rewarding to reflect together on what images reveal and conceal.