Wedding Dress 1937

Mary E. Humes rendered this wedding dress in pencil on paper, and what strikes me most is the artist's delicate touch. I imagine her carefully layering each mark, building up the form of the dress with precision and tenderness. I can almost feel the texture of the paper, the graininess of the pencil, the softness of the dress. The material of the dress seems to be rendered with such care—the weight of the fabric, the way it drapes and folds. It’s as though she's trying to capture not just its appearance, but its essence. I am particularly drawn to the puffed sleeves, which give the dress a sense of whimsy. Humes was working as part of the Federal Art Project, an initiative created during the Great Depression to support artists. Her image resonates with a sense of hope and aspiration amidst economic hardship, reminding us of the enduring power of art to uplift and inspire. I think we all stand on each other’s shoulders, and it’s this conversation between artists that keeps creativity alive.