Two Old Trees 1940

Wanda Gág made this watercolor on paper, of 'Two Old Trees'. Look at the marks she’s making, the way she’s layering the washes. It’s like she’s coaxing the image into being, responding to the flow and ebb of the watercolor, as the image comes to life with each layer. I imagine Wanda Gág standing there, brush in hand, feeling the cool dampness in the air. What was she thinking as she captured the stoic presence of these trees against the backdrop of the old barn? The paint is thin, almost translucent, allowing the paper to breathe beneath. There's a tenderness in the way she renders the gnarled branches, a kind of empathy that speaks to her deep connection with the natural world. The somber palette is beautiful. You can almost feel the weight of the sky and the quiet solitude of the scene. It reminds me of other artists like Charles Burchfield, who were drawn to the melancholic beauty of the American landscape. It’s as if these artists are in conversation, each adding their voice to a chorus of shared experiences and observations.