Bandbox c. 1939

Walter Doran made this watercolor and graphite drawing of a bandbox, and right away, I want to know what was inside it? I love how Doran captured the scene. It’s got this pastel palette, the figures and foliage are a light, almost faded color, and everything is outlined with the same consistent line. You can imagine Doran carefully choosing each color, layering them just so to build up these delicate scenes. It looks as if he applied the paint in thin washes, allowing the paper to shine through and giving the whole piece an airy, ethereal quality. It’s so lovely! The whole thing feels like a little world, a tiny stage set. You know, painting is like a conversation across time. Doran was riffing off of some earlier idea, some feeling, and now we get to riff off of him. Isn’t that great?