Shaker Bonnet c. 1936

Elizabeth Moutal made this drawing of a Shaker Bonnet in the twentieth century, though the exact date and media are unknown. The color is remarkable, like a sepia photograph or the memory of a thing, rather than the thing itself. You can see the ghost of the process in the layers, the careful building up of tone, like the Shakers' own practice of simple, repeated acts of devotion and labor. Look at the subtle shifts in value, particularly the way the light catches the inside curve of the bonnet. It feels so tender, almost like a portrait. This is a still life, yes, but it's also a study of form and light and how they articulate depth and volume on a flat surface. The smaller sketch is a lovely touch, a kind of echo or shadow, reinforcing the stillness of the piece. It calls to mind the drawings of Agnes Martin in its quietness and commitment to repetition and muted color, reminding us that art is as much about seeing as it is about making.