Infant's Shirt c. 1937

Richard Whitaker’s "Infant's Shirt" emerges on paper with delicate, gentle lines, like a whispered memory. The grayscale palette gives it an ethereal quality. It’s like looking at a ghost of a garment, capturing not just its form, but also the innocence and fragility of infancy. I wonder what Whitaker was thinking about when he made this? Was it a specific shirt, or more a generalized vision of babyhood? The precision of the scalloped edging contrasts with the soft rendering of the fabric, suggesting a real tension between meticulous observation and the poignancy of something fleeting. The subtle variations in tone create depth and volume, hinting at the unseen body that this shirt might once have clothed. It reminds me of other artists like Agnes Martin who find profundity in simplicity. It's a simple piece that shows the ongoing dialogue of artists across time, each adding their voice to the conversation.