Woman's Slipper c. 1937

Bessie Forman created "Woman's Slipper," a drawing where the dark, solid form of a slipper contrasts with the soft, pale background. This immediately draws our eye to its shape and texture. Forman employs a semiotic vocabulary through color and line, creating a sense of depth that defies the two-dimensional surface. Consider how the dark hue absorbs light, giving weight and substance to the slipper, a symbol itself of comfort and domesticity. The texture, rendered through careful hatching, suggests the tactile qualities of the material. Moreover, Forman uses geometry to structure the visual space. The sharp angle of the slipper's toe is juxtaposed with the gentle curve of the heel, creating a visual tension. The slipper becomes more than just an object, it's an exploration of form, function, and the semiotics of everyday life.