Dress 1935 - 1942

Editor: We're looking at a drawing simply titled "Dress," made sometime between 1935 and 1942 by Julie C. Brush. It feels like a historical fashion plate, elegant but also a little…severe? The puffy sleeves and high collar are certainly eye-catching. What strikes you about it? Curator: "Severe" is a good word. The piece, to me, whispers secrets of bygone eras. The rich drawing evokes a yearning for elegance, wouldn’t you say? Imagine the rustle of the skirt, the crispness of the collar. The fashion here suggests a desire for definition amid blurred historical lines. Does the clothing design give any clue about the identity of the wearer? Editor: That's interesting. I was just focused on the shape of the dress. The identity of the wearer didn't come to my mind at first! Curator: These drawings offer more than fashion. Perhaps a window into lost identities and desires… Notice the careful attention to detail in the lace trim, a labor of love lost somewhere between the pencil strokes. Editor: I see what you mean. There is this quiet intensity within the intimacy, inviting a touch of melancholy from the viewer as well. Curator: Precisely! It reminds us that beauty and sadness are not mutually exclusive, which invites a conversation in one’s core belief system. It might just be an image of the drawing, yet how poignantly it speaks! Editor: It does make you wonder about the life and times surrounding its creation. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It is beautiful to delve a little deeper with you to discover beauty and joy.