Gown c. 1936

Dorothy Gernon made this watercolour and graphite drawing of a gown, though we don't know when. The subject appears to be a design for a court dress, like those worn in the 18th century. But what does it mean to revisit such a style in the 20th century? We can consider this image in relation to the history of fashion as a cultural phenomenon. What does it mean to conjure the clothing of the past? Gernon's gown evokes the lavish, formal, and aristocratic fashions of pre-Revolutionary France. This speaks of formality, social hierarchy, and the power of display. She also includes six different fabric swatches. The design might be interpreted as a conservative homage to tradition or a progressive critique of contemporary fashion. Art historians can use fashion magazines, historical archives, and museum collections to shed light on the changing role of clothing in constructing social identities. In the end, the meaning of such an image remains open to debate.