Doll's Suit and Hat 1937

Curator: What a curious composition. This is "Doll's Suit and Hat" by Louis Maldarelli, created in 1937. It appears to be executed in drawing, maybe with charcoal and possibly oil pastel, though a definitive characterization may require further testing. Editor: Yes, a preliminary glance suggests an odd formality, a kind of rigid elegance, conveyed through the stark contrasts and somewhat unsettling absence of a figure to inhabit the clothing. Curator: Maldarelli, though perhaps not a household name, worked within circles deeply engaged in depicting everyday realities and the working classes during the Depression era. His involvement within the Federal Arts Project places his endeavors centrally in the discourse on the worker as the cornerstone of society. These studies of clothing represent perhaps ideas about how garments speak of identity. Editor: The patterning is interesting. It introduces a complexity which, while visually intriguing, paradoxically reinforces the sense of constraint and containment. The color relationships – the muted palette accented by dark lines – enhances this sentiment of controlled visual rhetoric. Curator: Indeed. This approach can be examined by his engagement of pattern as related to the changing fashions of women's garments. But his choices may relate also to his socio-political viewpoint of garment factories of that period and his views on women's societal roles and fashion itself. Editor: The materiality also influences my response. The stark medium offers an industrial edge that adds tension. The contrast heightens the almost austere quality of the garment’s design, yet a touch of theatrical drama enters with the scarlet of the ribbon adorning the hat, defying a severe reading. Curator: It does present a fascinating contrast, highlighting questions around women's work and attire. In fact, viewing his complete body of work leads one to consider just what role his identity had on his views and ultimate execution here. Editor: A tantalizing visual study, where line and shadow speak volumes. Curator: And an important visual object about the social conditions and art during the depression era.