Puppet c. 1940

Hilda Olson made this puppet, using watercolour and graphite. Look at the costume, it's a real riot of colour and pattern! The red, white, and yellow zigzags are so vibrant. It makes you think about how much time and consideration Olson took making this, like it was a joyful process. If you look closely, you can see how the paint soaks into the paper. There are areas where the colours blend softly, and others where the lines are sharp and precise. The contrast between the fluid watercolor washes and the crisp graphite lines gives the puppet a quirky sense of depth and presence. The overall effect is mesmerizing. Olson reminds me a lot of Forrest Bess who also explored personal symbology in her paintings. Like Bess, Olson seems deeply invested in making visible the kinds of hidden worlds that connect fantasy and reality.