Woman's Costume c. 1936

Elizabeth Moutal made "Woman's Costume" with watercolor and graphite on paper. It's basically a brown dress with a cape, rendered with such care in watercolor! What was she thinking about as she made it? I imagine her patiently building up the color, layer by layer, creating the texture of the fabric with delicate washes. I'm drawn to the thin lines of graphite that define the edges of the dress, giving it such a precise, technical feel. The dress and cape are rendered in a tonal range of browns, with a darker trim on the cape and cuffs, which pops against the white collar. The brushstrokes follow the form of the garment, giving it a sense of volume and depth. I like the way that she includes a lighter sketch to the side. You know, paintings of clothes are like portraits, and this one’s a memory. I’m just fascinated by how one artist can leave clues to another, like Elizabeth Moutal to all of us!