Boy's Suit c. 1939

This watercolour, Boy’s Suit, was painted by Henry De Wolfe, though we don't know when exactly. What I notice is the colour palette is understated, a deliberate choice that adds to the charm, don't you think? Looking at the material aspects of the work, the colour is quite muted; the blue is a very pale, quiet blue. Then there’s the texture. The soft, almost fuzzy quality of the suit, against the plain background, evokes a feeling of tenderness, a personal, emotional connection to a garment, perhaps? I mean, look at the detail in the scalloped edge. Each curve is carefully rendered, suggesting care, and a kind of tenderness. It’s as though the artist isn’t just depicting clothes; he’s capturing the essence of childhood. Like the paintings of Fairfield Porter, there’s an intimacy, a domesticity to the piece. It feels like a memory, a quiet observation rather than a grand statement. And that's where the magic lies.