Neckerchief c. 1937

Sylvia Dezon made this drawing of a neckerchief with what looks like pencil and maybe a touch of watercolor. The lines are so delicate, they almost disappear into the paper, like a whisper of an idea. I love the way the artist has captured the folds and creases, not with heavy shading, but with these almost hesitant lines. It’s as if she’s feeling her way around the object, mapping its contours with the lightest touch. The colors are so muted, so understated, that the drawing feels almost like a ghost of a neckerchief. I notice near the bottom of the image, an inscription in pencil, which may be a note about the item, or a sample to copy. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's drawings, that same sense of quiet contemplation and attention to the smallest details. But where Martin is all about perfect geometry, this drawing has a looseness, a human quality, that I find really appealing. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be loud or flashy, sometimes the most powerful works are the ones that speak in a whisper.