Cape c. 1936

This is Marie Mitchell’s drawing of a cape. The drawing shows the design of a cape, seemingly made from sheer fabric trimmed with black lace, likely made in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Mitchell likely used graphite pencil to render the drawing’s delicate fabric and intricate lace trim. Lace-making, whether by hand or machine, has always been highly valued for its intricacy. This cape is likely intended as an item of luxury, to be added to an outfit not for warmth but to convey status and wealth. Notice the lace, here; it is suggestive of the labour that would have been required to make and apply it, speaking to the garment industry and the workers behind it. In the context of both fine art and fashion history, this drawing emphasizes the skill and planning involved in garment design. This challenges traditional notions of art that often overlook the artistry and labor involved in clothing creation.