Doll in Plaid Dress c. 1937

Beverly Chichester painted this doll in a plaid dress, but the year remains a mystery. The plaid dress is a real showstopper, isn’t it? I can almost feel Chichester leaning in close, meticulously laying down each stroke to capture the fabric's intricate pattern. There's a real love of detail here. I wonder if she was thinking about fashion or maybe even childhood memories while she was creating it. The dress looks pretty stiff, I feel a sense of constraint. The doll’s bonnet is also quite elaborate. What does it mean for her to be dressed this way? Is it about status and wealth? Or is there something else going on here? There is such a strong tradition of painting people that I love seeing how artists can find new ways to approach portraiture. When we encounter the artist's mark, we’re also encountering the artist’s mind, their desires, and maybe even their fears. And maybe that’s what painting is all about—a conversation across time.