Doll's Bonnet c. 1939

Cora Parker made this watercolor of a doll’s bonnet, though the exact date is unknown. What strikes me first is the delicate palette, the way the soft grays and tans create a sense of volume with very little contrast. It's all about process, building up layers of transparent washes to create depth, not unlike the way a garment is constructed, stitch by stitch. The surface is so smooth it's almost like looking at a photograph, yet up close you can see the subtle variations in tone, the tiny marks that give the bonnet its form. Look at how the ruffles around the edge of the bonnet are rendered with delicate, almost hesitant strokes, as if Parker is feeling her way through the folds and creases of the fabric. It's this attention to detail that elevates the painting beyond a simple representation of an object. This reminds me of Morandi, another artist who found endless inspiration in the humble objects of everyday life. Ultimately, art is about making connections, finding new ways of seeing the world, even in something as small as a doll’s bonnet.