Velvet Bolero for Women c. 1937

Syrena Swanson made this Velvet Bolero for Women with pencil and watercolor on paper. I can only imagine how it must have felt to make it. I imagine Syrena’s hand moving across the paper, mixing the right shade of blush for the bolero. The velvet texture, implied rather than depicted, hints at warmth and luxury. What strikes me is the meticulous detail of the golden embroidery, each stroke carefully rendered. It’s easy to imagine the patience and precision required, each shape distinct yet part of the overall design. The geometric patterns have a radiating effect, as the eye moves from the center outwards, echoing the shape of the garment. Syrena, like all of us, is in conversation with those who have come before, learning from them, building on their experiments, finding her own voice in an ongoing creative dialogue. Painting, at its heart, is about embracing the unknown, trusting the process, and finding beauty in unexpected places.