Dress c. 1936

Curator: This vibrant piece is a drawing titled "Dress," created around 1936 by Hedwig Emanuel. It appears to be rendered in pencil and gives us a vivid peek into fashion design of the era. Editor: The immediate impact is the boldness of that plaid! It's a striking choice, especially with the fringe detailing around the shoulders. There's something inherently Scottish about it, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Absolutely. Tartan plaids have historically represented clan affiliations, a clear marker of identity and belonging. I see that repeated boldness, that strong statement, echoing across socio-political movements from the 18th century to even punk rock in the 20th! The act of adorning oneself in this pattern became a political statement, either asserting lineage, or actively disrupting the status quo. Editor: I'm curious about its relationship to romanticism. This rendering has such a gentle quality; but plaid often appears quite assertive, even confrontational. Can these qualities coexist here? Curator: I think so. Romanticism wasn't merely about soft aesthetics, but it prioritized feeling, experience and imagination over rationality, celebrating folk culture and unique emotional expression. The bold plaid might signify a reclamation of cultural heritage or a distinct individual identity which, at that time, challenged prevailing fashions and expectations. Look closely and see how those vertical and horizontal lines meet - isn't there something beautiful there? Editor: There's something subtly subversive here; that fringe trim combined with a rather formal, square neckline feels like it’s challenging Victorian norms of decorum while outwardly adopting their visual vocabulary. Curator: Precisely. Clothing always speaks, whether it’s whispering a quiet secret, or declaring a rebellion! Editor: The ghostly silhouette to the side seems like an incomplete under-drawing or perhaps an alternative take; it gives insight into Emanuel’s design process – how her creativity took shape, layer by layer. Thank you for those cultural layers that help decode that shape! Curator: Thank you for joining me; it always fascinating how an image meant only for beauty might contain centuries of expression and even conflict within its pattern and silhouette.