Baby's Cap c. 1937

Edna Rex made this watercolour of a baby’s cap sometime in the 20th century, and I imagine it was a labour of love. Look at the pale, thin washes of colour, the way the delicate pattern is picked out on the soft fabric. I can imagine Edna carefully mixing her colours, trying to capture the feel of the original cap. She probably wanted to remember it. Maybe she even made it herself? Each mark seems tentative, as if she were feeling her way, trying to describe not just how it looked but also what it meant. The little ribbons look so soft you want to touch them. The floral pattern has the rhythm of a dance. There’s a quiet beauty to this painting, like a whisper across time. For me it speaks to all the anonymous artists, mostly women, who have always laboured with care and attention to detail. Edna’s part of a long conversation between artists, looking, learning, and keeping the creative spirit alive.