Dress c. 1936

Rosalia Lane made this watercolor and graphite drawing of a dress, and another version of a dress, on paper, sometime between 1855 and 1995. Looking at the dress on the left, I like how the simple grid is enlivened by subtle shifts in color, from pale greens to darker, near-black shades. It's a real balancing act between pattern and improvisation. Up close, you can see individual marks of the brush, especially where the color bleeds slightly into the surrounding paper. The texture is smooth, but the slight imperfections give it a handmade feel, a sense of the artist's hand at work. This little drawing reminds me of Hilma af Klint, another artist interested in esoteric knowledge who used simple marks and colors to create deeply symbolic images. Both artists invite us to look beyond the surface and consider the unseen forces that shape our world. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, and that there's always more to discover if you just take the time to look.