Carousel Horse c. 1938

This watercolor painting of a Carousel Horse was made by Henry Murphy, who lived a long life, nearly one and a half centuries! There’s such tenderness in how Murphy renders this solid wooden horse, imbuing a sense of softness through his delicate washes. The horse seems to be emerging from the paper, and this kind of understated palette can really unlock a sense of depth. Look closely at the carved patterns on the horse’s body, Murphy’s captured them all with such meticulous detail. The pale greens and browns, give the creature an ethereal, otherworldly presence, don’t you think? The way the horse is positioned, almost mid-leap, suggests a perpetual state of motion, it's caught between stillness and animation. It reminds me of some of the quiet figurative works of Lois Dodd, who, like Murphy, finds a certain magic in the everyday. This piece reminds us that art isn't about answers, it's about opening up possibilities.