Ship's Carving 1935 - 1942

Frances Matsubara made this ship carving with what seems to be watercolor on paper. It's got this lovely, almost shy quality in the way the washes are laid down. I'm drawn to the little star right there in the middle. It's like a tiny sun, or maybe a badge of honor, embedded in the dark wood. You can almost feel the grain of the wood through the thin paint, and the way the leaves curl around feels so delicate, like they might just float away. The whole thing has this sense of carefulness, a real attention to detail that speaks to the artist’s deep connection with their craft. It reminds me a bit of some of the early American folk art, the way they turned everyday objects into things of beauty. There's a story here, but it's not one that's easily told. It’s a quiet kind of beauty.