Baby's Cap c. 1937

Edna Rex made this drawing of a baby’s cap in watercolor, using a delicate, almost ghostly palette, and it really speaks to the way artmaking is about tenderness. The light washes of color give it a kind of ethereal quality, like a memory. Up close, you can see the almost obsessive detail in the floral patterns. Each little leaf and tendril is rendered with such care. The way she captures the soft folds of the fabric makes you want to reach out and touch it. Notice how the simple addition of a light pink border creates a halo around the cap, elevating it almost to the status of a sacred object. This piece reminds me a bit of the work of Agnes Martin, in the sense that both artists use repetition and subtle variations to create a sense of quiet contemplation. In the end, it’s a meditation on care, love, and the fleeting beauty of childhood.