Dress c. 1936

This watercolour on paper, by Jean Peszel, shows a dress design which seems to capture the essence of Rococo exuberance, the drawing itself also looks like a joyful process. The colour palette is dominated by a vibrant, almost sun-drenched yellow, complemented by touches of pink and purple. Looking closely at the frills which cascade down the front of the dress, you can see how the artist uses a combination of fine lines and delicate washes to create a sense of movement and depth. The ruffles are like little waves, each one slightly different from the last, giving the garment a playful, almost animated quality. There’s a sense of abundance, but also precision, in the way these details are rendered. It reminds me a little of Fragonard, maybe, but with a fashion-forward twist. Like art, fashion can be about embracing ambiguity and change, rejecting the idea of fixed or definitive meanings.