Hat Mannequin and Bonnet c. 1937

Howard Weld’s ‘Hat Mannequin and Bonnet’ is a drawing; a world conjured with lines. It's got this stark simplicity, right? Just black lines on a pale ground, but it totally holds you. I find myself thinking about Agnes Martin, who also had this knack for doing so much with what seems like so little. Look how Weld renders the bonnet, almost like a soft sculpture. It's not about the thing itself, but the way it makes you feel. The starkness of the black ink, how it defines the shape, it's all so deliberate. Then you have the little scalloped trim on the mannequin, adding a touch of whimsy. I think it's interesting how the artist doesn’t give us much to work with, yet we get a whole story. The image reminds me that art isn't always about complexity. Sometimes, it's about stripping things down to their barest essentials.