Cravat 1935 - 1942

Henry De Wolfe made this watercolour drawing of a Cravat, we don’t know exactly when, but probably sometime in the 20th century. The colour palette is muted, almost faded, but the shapes are so solid! It’s like De Wolfe is figuring out how to render three-dimensional forms in a two-dimensional space. Look closely, and you'll see how De Wolfe builds up the texture of the cravat with thin, translucent washes of colour. It’s almost like he’s caressing the paper, gradually coaxing the form into existence. I love the way he captures the play of light on the fabric, suggesting its silky texture without ever getting too fussy or literal. See those tiny blue details? Each mark feels so deliberate, so carefully placed. I’m reminded of Giorgio Morandi and his still life paintings of bottles. Like Morandi, De Wolfe finds poetry in the everyday, elevating a simple object to something worthy of contemplation. It's a reminder that art isn't about grand gestures or sweeping statements, but about paying attention to the world around us and finding beauty in the unexpected.