Puppet 1935 - 1942

George File's 'Puppet' is a watercolor that captures the essence of performance and disguise. I can imagine File delicately layering the washes, teasing out the floral patterns on the puppet's baggy costume. Those bulbous red gloves! You wonder how they would feel to the touch. Then, the black boots, hanging loosely on the figure's feet. It’s like he has conjured this character from his imagination, a quirky personality with an enigmatic smile. Was he thinking about Commedia dell'arte? Or perhaps it was a memory of childhood, a forgotten toy rediscovered in the attic. The making of this piece feels tender and reflective, a testament to the enduring power of representation, of bringing forth new characters into our visual sphere. And that’s what art is, isn’t it? A continuous act of conjuring, influencing, and remixing; each artist speaking to those of the past, present, and future.