Puppet - "Chinese Minstrel" c. 1936

This drawing of a puppet, referred to as the "Chinese Minstrel," was created by Vera Van Voris, though the date is not known. Van Voris uses a delicate hand to render the intricate patterns of the puppet's robe, building up layers of color and detail to create a rich, textured surface. Look closely at the fabric - you can almost feel the weight and drape of the material. Notice the way the colors blend and bleed into each other, creating a sense of movement and fluidity, and the thin washes that create the illusion of light. I am drawn to the contrast between the ornate costume and the puppet's exaggerated features. The drawing has echoes of Redon's symbolist portraits, or maybe even a touch of James Ensor’s masked figures - reminding us that art is always in conversation with what came before. Ultimately, it’s up to us to decide what it all means.