Costume Accessory (Orange Blossoms) c. 1937

This piece, "Costume Accessory (Orange Blossoms)," was delicately rendered by Lyman Young in watercolor. What strikes me first is the quietness of the piece, the understated palette. It feels like a whisper, a gentle observation. Look at the paper itself, the way it subtly grounds the blossoms. Young's touch is so light; the pigments almost float on the surface. The greens are muted, almost grey, which heightens the soft, creamy whites of the buds. Notice the fine lines defining each petal, a dance between precision and the fluidity of watercolor. It's a tightrope walk, and Young pulls it off beautifully. There's a humility in this study, a reverence for the natural world that reminds me of Charles Burchfield’s earlier watercolors. Both artists find beauty in the everyday, in the subtle shifts of color and form. It makes you think about how seeing is really a collaboration, between the artist, the artwork, and, well, us.