Dress c. 1936

Lillian Causey made this watercolour painting of a dress design on paper. It's all about the pale lilac, isn't it? I find myself wondering, what came first, the dress or the wallpaper? The whole thing feels so light, airy, and impressionistic. It’s like she was painting a mood as much as a garment, that pale wash of colour around the base of the skirt just makes the whole thing float off the page. And that little square of fabric floating at the top, like a swatch, but not quite, because it’s also so beautifully rendered. I'm reminded of Vuillard's interiors, all patterns and soft light. Maybe art is just one conversation, constantly rippling through time.