Wedding Dress 1935 - 1942

This drawing of a wedding dress, by an anonymous artist, uses graphite and watercolor on paper. It’s pale and pretty, like a ghost of a dress. The artist is clearly interested in the process of making, showing us not one, but two versions of the dress. I love how the surface is activated by the contrast between the delicate lines of the graphite and the soft washes of color. The eye travels up and down, tracing the edges of the dress, lingering on the ruffles and the embroidered details. There’s a real sense of care and attention to detail here, like the artist is trying to capture the essence of the dress, its weight, its texture, its history. This drawing reminds me of the work of fashion illustrator, Erte. It captures a similar mood of romance and nostalgia and speaks to the idea of artmaking as an ongoing conversation. It's interesting how a simple drawing can evoke so many feelings and ideas. Ultimately, it's up to each of us to interpret the work in our own way, finding our own meaning in its lines and colors.