The Bouquet 1893 - 1945

Ernest-Ange Duez made this watercolor and graphite study, titled "The Bouquet," on paper, sometime in the late 19th century. Here, the artist delicately layered washes of color to capture the textures and form of the sitter’s dress and hat, a study in the era’s fashion. The materiality of the dress is interesting. Consider the labor required to produce it. It's a world of seamstresses, textile mills, and global trade networks. Even the bouquet she carries speaks to the culture of consumption that defined the era, and the way that wealth and status were visibly performed. Looking closely at the seemingly effortless strokes of the brush, we see the hand of the artist at work, orchestrating a complex interplay of materials, labor, and social meaning. It reminds us that even the most refined works of art are deeply entwined with the world of everyday life.