Woman's Dress c. 1936

Rosalia Lane made this watercolor and graphite drawing titled, "Woman's Dress." Born in 1855, Lane’s life spanned a period of immense social and cultural change, as well as evolving gender roles, especially for women. She lived through women getting the right to vote and multiple feminist waves. Lane's artistic journey occurred amidst shifting societal expectations for women, who were often confined to domestic roles. Did her creative outlet allow her a form of independence? Did it challenge or reinforce the era's gender norms? Consider the dress itself; the detail put into the design, its possible wearer and the events it could be worn to. Is it meant to be practical, beautiful, or both? The drawing invites us to consider the intimate relationship between clothing, identity, and self-expression, and to ponder the personal stories embedded within the garments that shape our lives.