Bonnet c. 1939

Grace Halpin made this drawing, Bonnet, with graphite and colored pencil on paper. It's the kind of drawing that sneaks up on you, isn't it? I can imagine Grace, with an eye for detail, sitting in a quiet room, carefully observing the way light plays on the folds of the fabric. Each line must have been added with patience, building up the form slowly, one tiny mark at a time. It's like she was trying to capture the very essence of the bonnet, not just its outward appearance. I'm really drawn to how the soft, muted tones give the drawing a dreamy quality. The texture of the paper, the way the graphite catches the light – it all adds to the overall effect. You know, it reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, in the sense of quietness and contemplation. Artists are always looking, learning, and riffing off of each other, whether they know it or not. Halpin probably never heard of Agnes Martin! We build on the past, don’t we? Every artist does!