Child's Bonnet 1935 - 1942

Editor: This delicate watercolor and pencil sketch on paper, called "Child's Bonnet", comes from sometime between 1935 and 1942. It’s… well, it's literally a child’s bonnet, but something about its fragile rendering makes it feel so much more than just an accessory. What story do you think this artwork tells? Curator: The choice of such a humble object elevates the everyday into a subject worthy of contemplation. I wonder what prompted the artist to focus on it. This piece speaks volumes about the construction of childhood imagery and societal expectations during the pre-war years, wouldn't you agree? Do you consider this piece just a visual study of texture? Or perhaps an expression of longing and sentimental longing? Editor: I definitely see the point about societal expectations. It seems…nostalgic, I suppose. I hadn't really considered it as more than a study, though. What makes you think of those other things? Curator: It comes down to thinking about *who* is depicting a child’s bonnet, *why* they chose to memorialize something that is otherwise fleeting. Is it simply to document an era through fashion, or something deeper than that? Are we seeing a sanitized vision of childhood? Also, does this aesthetic appeal to some deep rooted sentimental longing to bygone era? Editor: That makes so much sense now. So much about the act of representing something tells us more than the subject itself. Thank you! Curator: Precisely! Looking at art with an eye towards its cultural placement often leads to more complex and fascinating discoveries.