Waistcoat c. 1937

Catherine Fowler made this watercolor, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. It depicts a waistcoat, a common garment, but here rendered with significant attention to its form. The materiality of the garment is implied by Fowler's delicate washes. We can imagine the weight and drape of the cloth, the burnish of the buttons. But this isn't just a detached study of form; it also speaks to the social context of clothing. Waistcoats like this one were often associated with formality and middle-class respectability. The artist gives us a glimpse into the labor involved in producing such items. It is probable that the waistcoat was hand-sewn. But it also exists within a larger system of production and consumption. Fowler prompts us to consider how everyday objects can carry layers of meaning beyond their immediate function.