Valentine c. 1936

William P. Shearwood created this watercolor drawing entitled 'Valentine'. It presents a quartet of stylized garments, each framed within an oval, evoking a sense of poised elegance through a structured layout. The composition explores a play between form and absence. The faceless presentation removes identity, drawing attention to the elaborate attire. Each quadrant showcases distinct fashion elements with careful detail. Shearwood uses a delicate palette, contrasting the bold colors of the hats with soft pastels of the dresses. This offers a glimpse into sartorial aesthetics, indicative of societal values through visual codes of class and femininity. The arrangement hints at a semiotic structure, inviting viewers to decode the symbolism embedded within the artwork's patterns and motifs. It functions as a study in representation. Shearwood's valentine operates within the language of fashion. It's a means of communicating cultural ideals and individual expression, all captured within the artwork’s visual syntax.