Dress 1935 - 1942

Mary E. Humes made this drawing of a dress, probably on paper, with graphite. I really sympathize with Mary, because there’s a lot of problem-solving that goes into figuring out how a dress will sit on the body. It’s not just about design, it’s about physics! I can imagine her thinking about how the fabric drapes and flows, or the way the light catches on the folds. The ruffles on the bodice have been rendered with such care, as though each tiny mark is essential to the whole. The gentle cross-hatching brings the dress to life, as if the drawing itself is breathing. Mary's work reminds me of fashion plates from the 18th and 19th centuries, where artists would make drawings of the latest fashions, and circulate them among people who were wealthy enough to buy these things. Whether she was working for the wealthy, or trying to get wealthy, there’s a certain amount of hope involved in rendering something so pretty!