Trousers c. 1937

This drawing of "Trousers" by Henry De Wolfe is an interesting one, isn't it? Look how delicately the lines have been drawn, and how softly the color has been applied to give us a glimpse of something so utterly domestic and intimate. I can’t help but imagine De Wolfe at his desk, perhaps sketching these trousers from life, observing every button and curve. You can see another much lighter version on the right, and I wonder if this was his first attempt. Maybe he began with a faint outline to get the shape just right, before building up the tone to give the trousers volume and weight. The precision here is kind of interesting, and makes me think about the work of other artists like Hockney, who find beauty in everyday objects. Looking at a painting is an active process. We bring ourselves to a work, and the artist brings their eye, hand, and heart. We might understand something about the object itself and the process of representing it. It's a silent conversation across time.