Child's Dress c. 1937

Mary E. Humes made this rendering of a child’s dress with pencil and watercolor as part of the Index of American Design. The dress floats on the paper in front of us, the pale colors evoking a sense of nostalgia and innocence. There’s something so delicate about the way Humes captured the soft fabric and intricate lace. It feels like she really delighted in describing the textures and details of the garment. Notice how the dress seems to glow with an inner light. This effect comes from the thin, transparent layers of watercolor. The pencil lines underneath give structure to the folds and gathers of the fabric. It’s as if Humes is revealing not just the dress itself, but also the process of its making. You can almost see her hand moving across the paper, carefully tracing each line and curve. This piece reminds me a little of the work of Florine Stettheimer. Both artists have a way of capturing the beauty and whimsy of everyday life with a light touch and a keen eye for detail. What a beautiful thing.