Dress 1935 - 1942

This 'Dress' was made with watercolor by an unknown artist. I love thinking about the unknown maker, their hand moving across the page with such deliberation and care. I imagine them, perhaps in a room filled with fabrics, sunlight catching the threads as they mix colours on a palette. Look at the gold filigree against the blue and white—a delicate balance achieved through layering and refinement. The hand-painted texture gives it a sense of presence, like a ghost of a gown, fading into the paper. This reminds me of the fashion plates, which were popular with painters, allowing them to study shape and form without a model. It's almost as if they were both in conversation with one another, bouncing ideas around. Artists are always looking, learning, and remixing. This work reminds us that artistic expression is an ongoing dialogue, where each gesture builds upon the last.