Dress 1935 - 1942

Jean Gordon’s 'Dress' comes to us as a watercolour over graphite on paper. I imagine her, head down, creating a space of inquiry on the page. The rendering of the textures in soft lilac and muted rose, conjures something ephemeral. There’s a sensitivity of touch here, in the layering of the pigment, that feels incredibly intimate. I can see Gordon leaning in close, coaxing the fabric’s delicate lace trim into existence. It's a scene so evocative of the period, when the very act of dressing was an art form, an expression of identity. Like any great painter, Gordon is showing us something about the world, but also about herself and how she sees. It makes me wonder about her life, her relationship to fashion, and her artistic community. It all contributes to the painting's subtle emotional resonance. Artists are always in conversation with one another, across time and space. Gordon’s vision certainly offers a unique perspective, inspiring us to reflect on how we experience and express ourselves today.