Toy Rocking Horse c. 1936

John Fisk made this watercolor painting of a rocking horse, and the first thing that strikes me is its muted palette, a wash of grays and browns that give it a sense of history, like it's been weathered by time and play. I can almost imagine Fisk, brush in hand, carefully layering the paint, letting the colors mingle and blend to capture the essence of this well-loved toy. It feels like Fisk is not just painting an object but preserving a memory, and I wonder what he was thinking of when he made it. Was it a toy from his own childhood? The gentle curve of the rocker, the worn texture of the wood – they all speak to a past filled with laughter and imagination. And you know, that little seat looks so inviting; I can almost feel myself as a child again, soaring on this trusty steed! In a way, Fisk's painting reminds us that art isn't just about what we see, but what we feel, remember, and imagine.