Bonnet 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is a pencil drawing called "Bonnet" by Bessie Forman, made sometime between 1935 and 1942. It's just a sketch on paper, and for some reason, I find it oddly endearing, like a whisper of a bygone era. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Endearing is the perfect word! It’s got this… innocent quality, doesn’t it? It makes me think about how even the simplest things, like a bonnet, held significance. Imagine a woman carefully selecting or even crafting one like this! The texture created with the pencil strokes gives such detail to a basic garment. It's less about high art and more about the everyday made extraordinary. Editor: I also noticed the two smaller sketches of the bonnet alongside the larger one. Curator: Yes! I see them as echoey thoughts, further explorations of form. Aren't they sweet, like little ghosts of bonnets past? To me, Forman wasn’t just depicting an object but really investigating how shape and form intersect. The artist seems to ask the question: “how do I take something simple and imbue it with quiet meaning?” Editor: That makes me appreciate the simplicity even more. It's not just a bonnet; it’s an investigation. I initially saw a historical relic but I think I see a study of artistic intention too. Curator: Precisely! Sometimes, the quietest art speaks volumes. A fleeting, gentle touch on paper reveals its own hidden significance and transforms our perspectives!