Child's Dress c. 1936

Catherine Fowler made this drawing of a “Child’s Dress” with watercolor and graphite on paper. The overall impression is of a cheerful, patterned garment floating on the page, caught between representation and abstraction. I imagine Fowler carefully mixing her watercolors, testing each hue before applying it with precision. There’s a lovely balance between control and spontaneity in the way the colors bleed slightly beyond the graphite lines, giving the dress a soft, almost dreamlike quality. I can sense Fowler's interest in the interplay between pattern and form. The little diamonds create movement across the surface, while the shape of the dress itself remains simple and iconic. It reminds me of other artists like Faith Ringgold who use pattern and textiles to tell stories and explore identity. Artists like Fowler are constantly in conversation with the world around them, drawing inspiration from everyday objects and transforming them into something beautiful and meaningful. It’s a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, if only we take the time to look.