Full Dress Helmet c. 1936

Aaron Fastovsky made this drawing of a ‘Full Dress Helmet’ sometime in the 20th century, with pencil and watercolour. The color palette here is restrained: blacks and golds and creams, with a minimal approach to mark making, each stroke and line feels economical. Look at the way that Fastovsky has built up the form of the helmet through these careful, precise marks. He uses delicate strokes of black and grey to suggest the rounded form of the helmet, so subtle, like soft modelling on a face. The gold trim around the brim and the eagle crest on the front give the helmet a sense of weight and authority. The whole thing feels very formal and precise, and yet, there is a looseness, a freedom in the handling of the watercolour that invites you to imagine the artist at work. This image reminds me of some of the graphic works of Fernand Léger, with their bold lines and simplified forms. Both artists share a love of clarity and precision, but also a willingness to embrace the unexpected possibilities of their chosen media.