Man's Waistcoat c. 1942

Ruggiero Pierotti made this drawing of a man's waistcoat, but we don’t know when, or even what with. It’s hard to tell from the image. I really feel for Ruggiero. He’s trying to bring a three-dimensional object to life on a flat surface. I can imagine him fiddling about, trying to get the folds and the fall of the fabric just right. The waistcoat is made of light material in muted shades of gray and white. What I love about it is how the flat geometric pattern contrasts with the soft shape and the curves of the garment. There's something about the way he's carefully observed the construction of the waistcoat, the tiny buttons, the cut of the pockets. I can imagine him thinking how do I get this to look right? He manages to capture the feel of the fabric, its texture, and how light plays across it. It reminds me of the way Morandi painted bottles, with that same sense of quiet observation and attention to detail.