Waistcoat 1935 - 1942

This waistcoat drawing, of unknown origin, is rendered in graphite and watercolor on paper. The anonymous artist describes the waistcoat with meticulous strokes. The soft graphite and translucent washes create a ghostly image of the garment, blurring the boundary between presence and absence, design and form. Look closely at the buttons running down the waistcoat's front edge. See how each mark is subtly different, a testament to the human hand and the process of making? The linear framework of the garment is drawn with precision and control, while the watercolor fill suggests the play of light on fabric, an exercise in observation. This drawing reminds me of the work of fashion illustrator, Erte. Both artists seem intent on capturing not just the appearance of the garment, but also its essence, its potential for movement, transformation, and fantasy. In the end, it is a testament to the enduring power of the drawn line to evoke the world around us.