Wig Block 1935 - 1942

Mildred Bent made this drawing of a wig block at an unknown date with an unknown medium. The way Bent’s put down the color, in these sheer, washy layers, makes me think about watercolors and how they can stain the paper, almost like dyeing fabric, allowing the light to pass through. I love the precision of her rendering. She's clearly interested in the wood's textures and patterns, meticulously replicating its swirling grain and smooth surface. Look at the small, almost child-like eyes. Are they cut into the wood or part of the painting? The way Bent depicts the eyes imbues the mannequin with an almost unsettling sense of character. It is this tension between representation and abstraction that truly captivates me. I think of Morandi and the way that he seemed to find endless subject matter from the same collection of bottles. Bent's sustained attention to the objects around her reveals the potential for profound insights to be found in the everyday. Ultimately, Bent reminds us that art is not about mastering representation but about discovering new ways of seeing and experiencing the world around us.