Toy Horse 1935 - 1942

Here's Selma Sandler's "Toy Horse" – it looks like it's been rendered in watercolor or gouache, maybe a bit of both. I can see Sandler working slowly, carefully building up each patch of color to capture the gentle curves and soft shadows of the form. It's so subtle, the way she’s mixed browns, blacks, and reds to create the horse’s coat and mane. I wonder if Sandler had the toy in front of her, or if she was working from memory, or even a photograph. I imagine her carefully choosing each color, building up layers to create the final image. Look at the way she’s rendered the light catching the side of the horse’s body! Just this slight variation of the pigment makes the whole horse feel substantial. It is a great painting, and a reminder that we're all in an ongoing conversation.