Apron 1935 - 1942

Nancy Crimi made this drawing of an Apron on paper, but its exact date is a mystery. What strikes me first is the way she builds up the form with these tiny, careful marks. It's like she's knitting the image into existence, stitch by stitch. The color is so delicate, a pale, dusty pink. It reminds me of those faded vintage fabrics. Look closely and you'll see how the texture is created by the cross-hatching of the pen. This gives the apron a kind of depth and volume. There is a little drawing of the apron again at the top, maybe to show how it looks flat. It feels intimate, almost like a memory. Someone like Agnes Martin comes to mind, but with a touch of domesticity. This work reminds us that art is about more than just the finished product. It's about the slow, thoughtful process of making, and the way that process can reveal something about ourselves.