Hat c. 1939

Irene Lawson made this line drawing of a hat, we don't know exactly when, but perhaps sometime in the mid 20th century. It's made with a steady hand, but there's something a bit wonky about the drawing, it doesn’t quite sit right, and that’s what I like about it. It reminds me that art-making is always about a process of trying and seeing, not about slick perfection. The drawing describes this funny hat with a giant bow and ruffles, through the simple, unmodulated lines. The lines are thin and spare, but they swell and tighten, giving depth to the image. I particularly love the bow, it looks heavy and asymmetrical, like a party hat that's been crumpled at the end of the night. There’s a real sense of care to the drawing, it reminds me a bit of the work of Agnes Martin, in the way that the most simple gestures can add up to something really affecting. Ultimately, I’m not sure what the hat is really like, or if it ever really existed, but I love the openness and sense of possibility in the drawing.