Nightgown 1935 - 1942

This is Jean Peszel’s drawing of a nightgown, made with graphite and watercolor. Look at the way the color washes thinly across the garment, allowing the viewer to see the pencil marks beneath. The process of making is right there on the surface. The subtle textures here are just beautiful. There's a light, airy quality to the gown that suggests softness and comfort. Note the gentle folds and curves of the fabric. Peszel captures these with simple, economic lines that give the fabric weight and volume. The collar and cuffs have a decorative trim, with intricate detailing that contrasts with the relative simplicity of the rest of the garment. It reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, with its quiet, meditative quality and focus on subtle variations in color and texture. The drawing is more than just a representation of a nightgown; it evokes a mood, a feeling of quiet intimacy, perhaps of a world on the cusp of sleep. It’s this subtle emotional charge, combined with a deep sensitivity to the material qualities of the medium, that makes this piece so compelling.