Apron c. 1938

Henry Moran made this drawing of an apron at an undetermined date, using ink on paper. Look at the dark wash of ink, there’s something very tender and tentative about the mark making. It’s not quite representational and it’s not abstract either. It’s just in between! It reminds me of those half-finished paintings I abandon only to come back to years later, when they reveal themselves anew. The process is so much about this back and forth. I’m drawn to the way the wash of ink pools and gathers towards the bottom of the apron, creating a sense of weight and groundedness. This subtle detail speaks volumes about the unseen labor, and quiet dignity associated with domestic work. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, where the most sensitive and economic means are used to generate an emotional response. The meaning isn’t fixed - what does it mean to you?