Dress c. 1938

Mary E. Humes made this watercolor and graphite sketch of a dress design in an unknown year. What strikes me first is the luscious, almost velvety purple of the skirt, achieved through layers of watercolor. You can almost feel the weight of the fabric. Humes’s process is so apparent, like seeing brushstrokes frozen in time. Look at the way she renders the texture of the dotted jacket with such playful energy. It feels both precise and spontaneous, mirroring the dynamism of design itself. On the right, you see the back view of the dress and a swatch detail, this element shows Humes’s wider vision, maybe even a comment on the art of seeing, as if she’s saying, “Here's a glimpse, now imagine the rest”. This makes me think of Sonia Delaunay, who extended her practice across painting, fashion, and design. I admire Humes's work and her willingness to embrace the ambiguity inherent in the creative process.