Billethead c. 1936

Marian Page made this ‘Billethead’ with graphite and watercolor, conjuring a world where objects carry their histories on their surfaces. Look closely and you can almost feel the grain of the wood, the delicate washes of color bringing this architectural fragment to life. The way Page uses watercolor is fascinating; it's thin and transparent, allowing the graphite under-drawing to peek through, creating depth and texture. There’s a palpable sense of process, each layer telling a story. See how the light catches the carved details, the shadows hinting at the object's former grandeur. The precision of the drawing emphasizes the contrast between the organic fluidity of the design and the hard, unyielding material from which it is carved. Page’s work reminds me a little of Charles Demuth’s botanical studies, with their attention to detail and delicate color palettes, but with a more tangible connection to the history of craft and making. It’s a reminder that art is often about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary, and finding beauty in the unexpected.