Man's Hat 1935 - 1942

Bessie Forman made this drawing of a hat, sometime between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, using graphite on paper. The first thing that grabs me here is how the light describes the form; it's subtle, but also really clear. It’s like she's feeling her way around this object, letting the graphite find the shape. I love how the darkness of the hat contrasts with the soft paper, the way the light makes the hat almost glow. You can see Forman's hand in every stroke, the gentle pressure she applied, the way she layered the graphite to create depth. I find myself focusing on the texture she's created; the tiny lines that give the hat its velvety feel. It reminds me a bit of Morandi, with its quiet contemplation of everyday objects. It's like she's saying, "Look, even a simple hat can be beautiful if you really see it." It's a reminder that art is everywhere, in the things we overlook every day.