Dress 1935 - 1942

Jean Peszel's drawing presents a dress from a bygone era, its striped fabric whispering tales of elegance and social stratification. Notice the dress's open-front design. This detail is particularly telling. The open-front, revealing an ornate underdress, evolved from earlier courtly garments. Think of the Renaissance gown, gradually morphing into the 18th-century silhouette, each iteration reflecting a dance between modesty and display. The corset, the layers, all speak to a controlled, almost performative femininity. In ancient Minoan culture, bare-breasted figures symbolized fertility and power. Here, the emphasis has shifted. The display is now about wealth and status, a carefully constructed facade. What was once a symbol of raw life force becomes a signifier of social standing. The dress is less about the body it adorns and more about the image it projects, a spectacle, a performance.