Man's Coat c. 1937

This watercolor on paper, “Man’s Coat,” was made by Henry De Wolfe, who lived a long life, from 1855 to 1995. Looking at the soft hues of brown, beige, and black, I’m imagining De Wolfe at work. I see him carefully applying thin layers of watercolor, building up the form of the coat with delicate strokes. I wonder, was he a tailor, or someone interested in fashion? I bet he was thinking about shape, proportion, and the way light plays on fabric. The artist emphasizes the structure of the coat, the sharp lines of the lapels, and the long, flowing tail. I love how he included a sort of technical drawing of the back, like a diagram alongside the main image. It’s like he’s saying, “Look at how this thing is put together!” It reminds me a little of Fairfield Porter, but in such a different style. It makes me think about how we all draw on what came before, consciously or not, and how each of us brings our own unique vision to the table.