Head Pieces 1935 - 1942

Melita Hofmann made these 'Head Pieces' with pencil and crayon on paper. I love the intimacy of this small work on paper and imagine the artist at a table with her materials. There is a real feeling of playful experimentation in the image. The six head pieces are adorned with different abstract motifs. I find the way that Hofmann has rendered the head pieces so charming. They are like a child's drawing, naive but in a knowing way. I wonder if she was inspired by folk art or the work of other outsider artists? It reminds me a little of Paul Klee’s whimsical drawings. Each mark feels carefully considered, giving a real sense of depth and texture to the image. I wonder what it felt like for Hofmann to make these marks? What was she thinking about as she worked? It is a beautiful drawing and Hofmann’s work speaks to the universal language of art, inviting us to bring our own perspectives.