Silk Purse c. 1937

Hugh Clarke made this drawing, called *Silk Purse*, sometime in the twentieth century, most likely using pencil and watercolour. I love the way the drawing explores making as a process, with the additional technical drawings of details, we can see it’s not just a representation of a purse, but a glimpse into how it could be constructed. Look at the colours: soft greens and muted pinks, with touches of blue. The texture seems delicate, maybe Clarke wanted to evoke the softness of silk through the watercolour. The rendering feels precise, but the colours suggest a certain dreaminess, a kind of romantic vision. Notice the small blue and pink rosettes scattered across the purse, they seem to float on the green background. They are like tiny explosions of colour, each one unique, and somehow they bring the whole piece together. It reminds me a little of the floral works of Charles Demuth, but with a more domestic, intimate feel. Ultimately, the image reminds us that art can be found in the most unexpected places, and that even the most ordinary objects can be transformed through careful observation and creative expression.