Bustle c. 1936

Lillian Causey made this drawing, Bustle, on paper. It’s all about surface, isn’t it? Look at the way she renders the material; there’s this really delicate, almost dreamy quality to the pattern, like you could almost reach out and feel the texture of the fabric. The color palette is so subtle and muted, mainly blacks and grey. The drawing has a translucent quality, kind of like tracing paper. Notice how she uses the simple hatching lines to create such an intricate network of patterns on the dress. It’s almost like she’s mapping out the hidden architecture of the garment. It reminds me of a Cy Twombly in its linear quality, especially of his scribbled drawings. Both artists share this real interest in the poetics of mark-making. Ultimately, art is an ongoing conversation, isn’t it?