Wedding Dress c. 1940

This is Mary Fitzgerald's watercolor and graphite artwork titled "Wedding Dress," made during a period of evolving social norms, which allowed for more diverse cultural representations. During Fitzgerald's lifetime the traditional expectations of women were being questioned. A wedding dress, typically white to symbolize purity, is here rendered in green; this choice moves away from established traditions. Fitzgerald might be making a statement about the changing roles of women. What does it mean to subvert the established colour of marriage? This garment symbolizes not only the union of two individuals, but also the evolving landscape of female identity and agency. Through her art, Fitzgerald perhaps invites us to reflect on how personal choices can challenge and reshape societal norms, while at the same time inviting us to experience the individual emotions of the depicted subject.