Headdress

c. 1937

Bessie Forman

Associated Names
Bessie Forman

Artist, American, active c. 1935

The image features a large, intricately draped black fabric structure adorned with dense tassels and decorative elements. There are cascading black tassels with golden, oval bead-like attachments hanging from leafy embellishments. The color palette primarily consists of soft blacks, deep greens from the leaves, and shimmering golds. Positioned centrally, the black fabric loops in large folds toward the bottom of the image, while the ornate tassels hang conspicuously along the sides. Adjacent to this intricate setup is a faint, sketch-like outline of a similar decorative piece, which appears to fade into the upper right portion of the image.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper

  • Credit Line

    Index of American Design

  • Dimensions

    overall: 29.3 x 23.1 cm (11 9/16 x 9 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.8.1164


Artwork history & notes

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite: Bessie Forman

Wikidata ID

Q64537444

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