Headdress c. 1937

Eva Noe created this drawing, Headdress, using graphite and watercolor. The light tan of the hair sharply contrasts with the faceless void. This creates an unsettling effect, drawing attention to the elaborate hairstyle as a symbol of identity. The composition is vertically oriented. The drawing depicts the head and shoulders of a figure, with an emphasis on the intricate arrangement of the hair. The hair is styled in a series of rolls or curls, creating a sense of volume and texture. The use of watercolor gives a soft, diffused quality to the hair, emphasizing its shape and form. Notice the absence of facial features; this pushes us to consider the semiotic value of the headdress itself. Is it a comment on the superficiality of beauty standards, or is it an exploration of identity construction through external adornment? This image offers a complex interplay between presence and absence, inviting ongoing interpretation.