Empire Bonnet 1935 - 1942

Editor: So, this is "Empire Bonnet," a pencil drawing created by Melita Hofmann between 1935 and 1942. It's just a drawing of a hat, but it strikes me as oddly formal. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a study in form and texture. Notice the contrast between the smooth, curved dome of the bonnet and the intricate lacework that adorns it. The artist masterfully uses pencil to create the illusion of depth and volume. How does the hatching technique affect your perception of the object's materiality? Editor: The hatching does make it look three-dimensional, but it's still very delicate, almost fragile. Like it could float away. I'm curious, how do we move past just describing what's on the page? Curator: By analyzing the formal relationships at play. The bonnet is not isolated; it is placed against a backdrop of soft, cloud-like forms. The repetition of the oval shape throughout—in the bonnet itself and in the surrounding ornamentation—creates a visual harmony, but the difference in the mark making disrupts the feeling of unity. Editor: So it's about finding the tensions within the piece, the harmonies, and the subtle variations in how things are depicted? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the light plays across the surface, highlighting certain areas and leaving others in shadow. This interplay of light and shadow contributes to the overall sense of depth and volume and leads our eye around the piece. The artist wants our eye to travel. Editor: I see! By looking closely at the lines and shapes, we can start to unpack how the artist is trying to guide us, to control what we perceive. Thanks, I think I understand that approach a little better now. Curator: And I think focusing on the relationship of form and line, of hatching and open space, really elevates what otherwise might seem like a simple sketch.