Doll in Plaid Dress c. 1937

Beverly Chichester, who lived from 1855 to 1995, made this watercolor of a Doll in Plaid Dress, although we don’t know exactly when. The doll's dress is mostly red, but if you look closely, the artist layered blues and purples, using thin washes to build up this amazing plaid. The color is applied so delicately, so thinly, that it almost disappears into the paper. And look at the frilly lace around the neck and the headdress. This level of detail tells me Chichester was interested in the process of looking and describing. It feels meticulous, but somehow avoids being too precious. When I look at this, I think of Joseph Yoakum, another artist who worked outside the mainstream, driven by their own vision and process. I am really moved by this piece, it celebrates seeing.