Bonnet 1935 - 1942

Dorothy M. Gerhard made this drawing of a bonnet with pencil on paper. The approach to mark-making is delicate and precise. You can see the way each line carefully and deliberately constructs the form and intricate pattern. It's the kind of drawing that makes you think about art-making as a quiet, contemplative process. Looking at the surface, you can almost feel the texture of the lace and the soft curves of the floral design. The pencil lines are thin and light, creating a sense of transparency and ethereality. The shading is subtle, giving the bonnet a sense of depth and volume. The repeated motifs could almost be letters or runes. It makes you wonder about the original bonnet, the hands that made it, and the person who wore it. This drawing reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, in its quiet simplicity. Like her drawings, it invites you to slow down, observe closely, and find beauty in the everyday. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be loud or flashy. Sometimes, the most profound statements are the ones whispered in the faintest of lines.