Fire Station 1935 - 1942

Perkins Harnly made this image of a Fire Station in watercolor, but when? The rendering of the vehicles and equipment has an appealing precision, yet it's softened by the loose, transparent washes of color. I get the feeling that Harnly approached the picture like a puzzle, building up layers of detail. Look at how he uses this watercolor to create texture. You can almost feel the roughness of the brick walls or the smooth surface of the metal bell. And that red! It leaps out, bringing an immediate emotional charge to the scene. See that little black dog sitting on the sidewalk in the back? It's just a tiny dab of paint, but it adds so much depth to the picture. It reminds me of some of Charles Sheeler's architectural paintings, though Harnly's got a folksier, more personal touch. It feels like Harnly is inviting us into his world. And that’s what good art does, right? It opens up a space for conversation.