Accessories 1912

Charles Martin made "Accessories" in 1912 with delicate lines and a soft palette; it’s like a whisper of fashion from another era. The hats, each a tiny world of style, are rendered with such precision, it feels like you could reach out and touch the feathers. Look at the hat numbered seven! It’s so strange and fantastical, a sort of bird-like contraption. The way Martin uses these little hatches to create tone, it's beautiful. I love how the colors are transparent, letting the paper breathe beneath. Martin’s illustrations remind me of Erté, though Erté is shinier and more self-consciously ‘Art Deco.’ Here, there’s a simplicity and directness, a kind of naive charm that gets under my skin. In art, there’s always an invitation to dream, and I love how this little drawing opens up a space for me to let my imagination run wild.