Silk Gown (Detail) c. 1940

Lester Kausch made this artwork, Silk Gown (Detail), using watercolor and graphite on paper, but the date of its creation remains unknown. It appears to be a design study for decorative fabric. Kausch's long life, from 1855 to 1995, means that he likely worked through various artistic movements, from the late Industrial Revolution to Post-Modernism. This drawing might have been made during the Arts and Crafts movement when there was a renewed interest in handcrafted goods. The movement grew in response to the mass production of the Industrial Revolution, and it was associated with socialist ideals. The image presents an interesting paradox as it’s a handcrafted study in preparation for a machine-made object. Understanding the social context of Kausch’s art requires archival research into the schools he attended, the galleries he exhibited in, and the social circles he frequented. All of these aspects inform our interpretation of this work.