Gown c. 1940

Lillian Causey's watercolor titled "Gown" presents an intriguing study in form and texture. Predominantly, we see a dress rendered with luminous blues and pinks, adjacent to a muted, minimalist sketch of the same garment. The formal contrast between the richly colored gown and its schematic counterpart introduces a compelling tension. The watercolor, with its layered washes, captures the play of light on fabric, emphasizing volume and depth. Notice the intricate detail of the fringe which adds a tactile quality, inviting the eye to explore its delicate structure. The adjacent sketch offers a structural counterpoint, reducing the dress to its essential lines. This juxtaposition prompts us to consider the relationship between representation and reality. Causey seems to be asking: how do we translate the ephemeral qualities of light and texture into a coherent form? The artwork destabilizes fixed meanings, engaging with new ways of thinking about perception. The gown's color and form function not just aesthetically but as part of a larger discourse on perception and representation. Art does not have a singular meaning but is a site of ongoing interpretation.