Untitled (torsos) c. 1971

Christina Ramberg created this sheet of drawings with pen and ink on paper, sometime before her death in 1995. We see a series of torsos, lightly sketched and bound in what appear to be tight undergarments – corsets or bras. Though simply rendered with sparse hatching, the artist has taken care to indicate the physical constriction of these garments. The drawing feels almost like a set of instructions, diagrams for how to control the body. Ramberg was fascinated by the way clothing could shape identity, and in particular, the underpinnings that literally and figuratively support conventional femininity. She elevated these hidden structures to visibility, asking us to consider their impact on the wearer. The attention to detail and technique invites us to consider how our everyday garments and practices are imbued with social meaning. By focusing on these intimate, often unseen aspects of our lives, Ramberg challenges the traditional distinctions between fashion, craft, and fine art.