Afternoon Gown c. 1936

Ray Price created this watercolor painting "Afternoon Gown". The image presents a garment, an afternoon gown, draped with a layered skirt that is cinched at the waist with a sash. But this is more than mere fabric; it speaks of status, gender roles, and unspoken desires. Observe how the sash, reminiscent of ancient Roman stola belts, divides and defines the female form. The sash appears in countless depictions of goddesses and noble women throughout history. In this context, its presence emphasizes the idealized image of feminine virtue. The gown's delicate lace whispers of a bygone era, and yet, even in its fragility, it evokes a feeling of timelessness. See how Price captured the play of light and shadow, giving the gown a spectral presence, as if it were a memory, a fragment from a dream, forever preserved in the collective consciousness.