Infant's Dress c. 1938

Marie Famularo made this drawing of an infant's dress with graphite on paper. There's something so tender about it, isn't there? Like a whisper of memory. The way the graphite softly blooms across the paper feels like a process of gentle discovery. Notice how the smocking at the bodice and sleeves gathers the light. It almost feels like Famularo is tracing the memory of a garment, letting the details emerge as she goes. The lines are delicate but sure, capturing the way fabric drapes and folds, especially the heavier treatment at the lower portion of the dress. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin's drawings, in the sense that both artists share a dedication to quiet observation and the power of subtle gestures. You can almost see the care and attention she lavished on this simple object. To me, it speaks to the quiet beauty of everyday life, to the love and labor woven into the fabric of family.