Tippet and Muff c. 1938

Hans Mangelsdorf made this drawing of a tippet and muff with pencil and crayon, sometime in the 20th century. I can imagine him working at his desk, holding up the garments, squinting, noticing all the subtle gradations of tone and color and trying to work out how to represent them. There's something deeply satisfying about the commitment and patience involved in making this image. The repeated hatching marks build up a sense of volume and texture – all those little strokes create the plushness of the fur. I think the artist really enjoyed observing how light played across the surface of the fur. Looking at it I’m reminded of other artists who have focused on the quiet, everyday aspects of the world around them, but this has a slightly alien quality that sets it apart from mere still life. It makes you think, what is he trying to say?