Bonnet c. 1941

Stella Mosher made this drawing of bonnets at some point during her long life. Aren't they adorable? I'm really drawn to the textures here—the way the fabric softly drapes and folds, and that delicate lace. I think Mosher really noticed how light plays on these textures, especially the difference between the frilly one on the left and the plain one on the right. It's a drawing, yes, but she really captures the tactile quality of these objects so well. I can almost imagine Mosher sitting with these bonnets in front of her, carefully studying each curve and pleat. I wonder if they belonged to someone she knew, maybe a child or a grandchild. It's like she's preserving a memory, not just depicting an object. There's something about the way she renders these intimate, everyday objects that reminds me of the paintings of Morandi, or even the quiet still-lifes of Agnes Martin. Artists, you know, we're always looking, noticing, and learning from each other across time.