Cap c. 1936

Curator: This pencil drawing, titled "Cap," was created by Rosalia Lane around 1936. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: There's a certain fragility that immediately strikes me. It's delicate, almost ephemeral. The soft lines and muted tones give it a very light presence, don’t you think? Curator: Absolutely. Lane’s deft use of pencil creates a play of light and shadow, primarily to capture the textures of the cap and ribbons. It’s interesting how she builds form primarily through hatching and implied line. Consider how she coveys volume by varying the density of the marks and allowing for an airy feel, with substantial attention to negative space. Editor: Right, it looks quickly rendered. One can't help but imagine the skill involved to create such convincing dimensionality with a medium as unforgiving as pencil on paper. What can you tell me about the context of women’s headwear at this time? Curator: It’s a glimpse into the sartorial conventions of the era. Women’s fashion of the 1930s often incorporated decorative hats, usually for social or professional events. They weren’t often depicted by fine artists in such close view. We see this drawing and its intricate details of fabric and ribbon, not as ornamentation but worthy of being a primary subject itself. Editor: The choice of materials and focus shifts our attention to production: where were the materials sourced and crafted? To what degree were female laborers involved in every level of making, and what were the social expectations they may have confronted? Curator: An important and crucial aspect to consider is the garment industry and women's involvement in production during this period. Lane’s drawing could very well memorialize the tangible traces of material practices or even people we often do not see directly. It certainly goes beyond a mere rendering. Editor: It's fascinating to consider how a seemingly simple sketch can offer such varied, and, perhaps previously hidden insights. Thanks for sharing your perspectives. Curator: And thank you. Thinking about this work makes me want to explore what other seemingly quotidian objects Lane decided to give monumentality.