Fan 1935 - 1942

This is Bessie Forman’s ‘Fan’, made at an unknown date with watercolor on paper. I love the palette, it’s so gentle – muted pinks and golds, the cool blues and lilacs. It's funny to think about all the choices, and accidents, that go into something that looks so simple. There's something very pleasing in the way she lays down the washes, the way the colors pool and bleed into each other. This is the thing about watercolour: it feels very direct, you see every gesture of the artist’s hand, nothing is overworked. Look at the way the gold is handled on the ribs, it’s almost like she’s using a sponge to dab the paint on, creating a textured surface that catches the light. And then there's that red string. It’s so delicate, just a whisper of color, and it anchors the whole composition, it’s so clever. This little painting reminds me of some of the work of Agnes Pelton, the way she uses light and color to create a sense of ethereal beauty. But Forman's work has a more grounded, homespun quality, it’s like a folk song, the kind that stays with you long after you've heard it.