Toy Warship 1935 - 1942

Frances Lichten made this watercolor of a Toy Warship, and right away, I see it’s about simplicity and playful exploration. The color palette here is super muted and transparent, which gives the whole thing an innocent, nostalgic feel. Lichten wasn’t trying to hide the process; you can see every brushstroke, every layer of color building up, making the image seem more approachable and honest. Look at the hull of the ship. It's mostly brown, but it has these beautiful washes of transparent color. Lichten lets the water do its thing, creating these lovely variations in tone and texture. It's like she's saying, “Here’s the ship, but here’s also the paint, the water, the paper – all working together.” It makes me think of Joseph Stella and his own experiments with form and color. Both artists show how art can be a conversation. Anyway, I think this work is about seeing the world with open eyes and letting art be art.