Boy's Suit 1935 - 1942

Editor: This watercolor and ink drawing, "Boy's Suit," by Dorothy Gernon, made sometime between 1935 and 1942, is quite striking. The crispness of the lines and vibrant blue grab the eye. What strikes you about it? Curator: The material rendering is fascinating. Consider the medium: watercolor, typically associated with lightness, yet here it defines a garment. What was the social context for children's clothing then? Labor conditions were often harsh, fabrics were scarce during wartime... Editor: So you're suggesting the seemingly decorative costume is connected to larger economic forces? Curator: Exactly. The making, the consumption, even the depiction - all reveal information. What fabrics were available? Who made such a suit? The choice of watercolor on paper—cheap, accessible materials—contrasts sharply with the garment's implied luxury. Editor: I see your point. It almost critiques ideas of high art and craft, right? Like, watercolor is 'lesser', but it's used to depict this elaborate item... Curator: Precisely. It challenges that very hierarchy. Gernon has chosen an ordinary medium to create an extraordinary item. Editor: Thinking about material accessibility and how that affects the artwork’s meaning has definitely changed my perspective! Thanks. Curator: And looking at it this way hopefully underscores how an examination of an artwork’s materiality enriches its meaning and illuminates broader social histories.