Embroidered Jacket 1935 - 1942

This Embroidered Jacket was drawn by Isabelle De Strange, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century. Looking at the intricate floral pattern, it's amazing to think about the time, care, and attention that went into the original embroidery, and the way Isabelle De Strange has translated that into a drawing. You can almost feel the texture of the stitching. The drawing is pretty precise; she’s using a limited palette of browns and grays, mostly line work, and you can see how she's carefully plotted out the design. The top rendering of the jacket is incredibly detailed, with each swirl and leaf given its own space. I’m drawn to the symmetry of the piece, how the artist balances precision with a sense of freedom. It reminds me a little bit of Hilma af Klint's work, in the way it combines meticulous observation with almost mystical symbolism. Art is all about these conversations across time, different artists riffing off each other's ideas, even if they never met.