Man's Coat 1935 - 1942

Nancy Crimi made this watercolour of a man's coat sometime in the 20th century and look at how elegantly she's painted the surface, making the decorative elements of the garment come alive through colour and shading. It's like she's undressing the coat with her eye, revealing its inner life. The green check pattern is painted with such gentle control, while the floral embellishments are allowed to bloom in a riot of pastels. There's such a contrast between the precise delineation of the coat's form and the almost haphazard arrangement of these floral details, it’s a reminder that artmaking is as much about control as it is about letting go. Look at the small detail of the lace cuff and how this area of tiny detail anchors the whole composition. This piece reminds me of the work of Charles James, the British couturier known for his sculptural, architectural approach to dressmaking, it is another great example of how art can be found in unexpected places. Ultimately, what Crimi's work tells us is that art is not about answers, but about opening up possibilities for dialogue, exploration, and reflection.