Silk Purse c. 1937

Hugh Clarke made this watercolour drawing of a silk purse. It’s like he's not just showing us the object, but also how it's put together, with extra sketches floating around it. I can imagine him carefully mapping out each stitch and bead, almost like an engineer drawing up plans. What was Clarke thinking when he chose these pastel colours? How did he manage to make the tassels look so soft and inviting with just watercolour? The precision, especially in rendering the net-like structure of the purse, makes you wonder about Clarke’s patience and attention to detail. It reminds me of the work of other meticulous draughtsmen, like textile designers, who blend art and craft. This piece isn’t just a drawing, it's a celebration of craftsmanship.