Bonnet 1942

Fred Hassebrock made this watercolour drawing of a bonnet, probably from life, at some point during his career. What I find so lovely here is the way that Hassebrock has let the different tones and textures in the hat lead the work. Look at the ribbon! You can almost feel the way it drapes, the way it would feel to the touch, it’s all there in the subtle rendering of the colours. The blue around the rim is just enough to offset all the browns, and the leaves provide contrast. There’s a stillness to the piece, in the subject matter, but also the execution. I find that artists like Hassebrock, and someone like Agnes Martin, share a common interest in everyday objects, creating an art that encourages the viewer to slow down and really see.