Coat (Pattern) 1935 - 1942

Mina Greene’s Coat (Pattern), captures clothing patterns on paper, their geometric shapes resembling an ancient script detailing a ritual, not mere garment construction. Consider the sleeve, for instance. Its form echoes the draped arms of classical statuary, a gesture of mourning or supplication that resurfaces across epochs. Its inherent symmetry is suggestive of balance and order. Similarly, the cut of the collar, with its sharp angles, mirrors architectural motifs found in ancient temples, suggesting a blueprint for a sacred space. The act of dress itself, of donning a coat, connects to the idea of transformation. Like the shedding of skin in ancient rituals, the coat becomes a symbol of change, a garment that protects and conceals, while simultaneously revealing aspects of identity and status. These patterns, seemingly utilitarian, carry cultural memory, a visual language speaking to deep, psychological needs.