Dress c. 1936

Fanchon Larzelere made this drawing of a dress with watercolor and graphite on paper. It's like a daydream, all soft blues and delicate details, a real testament to the art of seeing. Look at how the watercolor washes create this ethereal, almost translucent effect. It’s not about being precise, but about capturing the essence of the fabric, the way light might play on it. You can almost feel the lightness of the material, especially in the wispy trail of fabric that extends to the left, just a delicate sketch with a ghostly presence. Then, take in the way Larzelere has included all the information about the dress; the sections, the sleeves, the shape. It’s as if she is showing us how the dress is made with words and line. This reminds me of the work of Florine Stettheimer, who also had a fascination with fashion. It’s about the sheer joy of making, and how we can understand art as a conversation, a space for constant exchange.