Cape 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is Charles Criswell's "Cape," likely created between 1935 and 1942. It appears to be a watercolor and drawing. The garment feels very formal and feminine to me, almost like something out of a historical drama. What social context can you read in this piece? Curator: The meticulous detailing, the specific cut, and the use of purple shades all speak to a very particular identity and a certain access to resources. Garments, especially in this era, were highly coded signifiers. Who do you imagine wore this cape? What societal roles might they have occupied? Editor: Perhaps someone of means? I notice how detailed and carefully planned the design looks, it definitely communicates high social status. Curator: Exactly. Consider the limitations placed on women at this time, particularly regarding their roles in society and their modes of expression. The "cape" then transforms from mere apparel to an emblem of possible autonomy. Is it concealing or revealing, shielding or showcasing? How does the cape become a symbol of the woman's projected identity? Editor: I guess it’s like armor or even like the opposite, if it were light or transparent it might signify submission. Curator: Precisely. How does the design simultaneously embrace and defy the prescribed expectations of women during that period? Perhaps a visual assertion of presence and autonomy? What about the artist, how do you think they felt about this garment? Editor: Now I am seeing it as more than just clothing, but something really interesting to think about. This image helps us reflect on societal expectations, and consider individual empowerment through something as simple as apparel. Curator: And how objects, even something as commonplace as a garment, can be imbued with so much more, reflecting both personal expression and social dynamics.