Dress c. 1936

This little watercolor of a dress was made by Jean Peszel sometime during the 20th century. It reminds me of a fashion plate, the kind that used to show off the latest styles. I can imagine Peszel, perched at her table, carefully mixing shades of blue and white to get that perfect rococo confection. There’s something so gentle about the way she renders the fabric's folds and the delicate floral pattern. Look at those frilly cuffs, like little clouds around the wrists! You can feel the history in this dress, the weight of tradition and the fleeting nature of fashion. I wonder if Peszel ever saw a real dress like this, or if it lived only in her imagination? Either way, she has created a tiny, timeless world on paper. It's like she's inviting us to step back in time and imagine the rustle of silk, the scent of perfume, and the whispers of a bygone era.