Quaker Bonnet c. 1937

Rosalia Lane made this intriguing watercolour drawing of a Quaker Bonnet sometime in the late 20th century, a beautiful study in muted tones and textures. I love the way Lane has built up the form of the bonnet with these delicate, repetitive strokes. You can almost feel the soft padding and the gentle curve of the fabric. The color palette is restricted, browns and creams, which adds to the sense of quiet contemplation. Look at how the light catches the rounded edge of the bonnet, it gives the whole image a kind of sculptural presence, like a wearable monument. The two smaller studies in the foreground feel more tentative, like the artist is mapping out a design, or exploring different options. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin’s drawings, in the way that a simple, everyday object can become a vehicle for exploring light, form, and surface. It reminds us that art is always in dialogue with itself, borrowing, adapting, and re-imagining ideas across generations.