Ontwerp voor kostuum voor Arethusa 1910 - 1918

This costume design for Arethusa, made by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, is all about imagining characters through color and form. The black background sets off the yellow and green of Arethusa's outfit, creating a striking contrast. I wonder what Holst was thinking about when he made this? The materials of a design like this—watercolor and pencil—allow for a certain kind of delicate mark-making, but also a kind of decisiveness, right? It's as if Holst is sketching out a possibility. The arrow in her hand isn't just an attribute; it suggests movement, direction, and purpose. It's like a brushstroke, guiding our eye through the composition. This piece reminds me of other costume designs I’ve seen, where the artist isn't just designing clothes, but really thinking about the person and the story. There's a whole conversation going on between artists across time, inspiring each other. It really emphasizes painting as embodied expression!