Shaker Man's Costume 1935 - 1942

This is Helen E. Gilman's "Shaker Man's Costume," made with watercolor and graphite. Look at the way the lines vary, from solid and descriptive, to thin and faded, even disappearing, which gives a sense of her process, of trying to capture the essence of the costume rather than just copying it. The color palette here is muted and restrained. The beige of the suit is almost like a ghost, as if the garment is barely there. The graphite adds a bit of texture and depth, especially in the folds of the fabric. The back view is almost like a memory. I think it’s interesting she included it because the back is so often something we don’t see or think about. There’s something almost like an Agnes Martin about this, a kind of quiet reverence. The way Gilman uses line and color speaks to a deep understanding of how much can be said with very little. She knew that art wasn’t about making something perfect but about capturing a feeling, an idea.